Key Points
- Multiple retail closures have taken place across Romford town centre, affecting both high street locations and major shopping centres.
- Independent interior design business Ellie’s Finishing Touches closed its doors after serving local customers since 2016.
- Long-standing independent footwear retailer Parmars ceased trading on South Street in January following decades of operation.
- The Liberty Shopping Centre lost two major high street chain tenants with the departures of toy retailer The Entertainer and clothing chain Select Fashion.
- Accessories and jewellery brand Claire’s shut its premises inside The Brewery shopping complex.
Romford (East London Times) October 31, 2026 – A series of retail closures has struck Romford during the first half of 2026, marking another challenging period for commercial spaces across the town’s high streets and shopping centres. The shut-downs affect a combination of long-standing family-run businesses and established national retail chains across prominent locations, including South Street, The Liberty Shopping Centre, and The Brewery.
Which Independent Businesses Have Closed on Romford High Street?
Among the notable independent casualties in the town centre is Ellie’s Finishing Touches. The independent interior design shop permanently ceased trading earlier this year, ending a operational stretch that began in 2016. During its eight years of trade, the shop provided bespoke interior decor, furnishings, and design advice to local residents.
The town also experienced the loss of Parmars, a traditional ladies’ footwear retailer located on South Street. Parmars announced its permanent shutdown in January 2026. Having traded in Romford for several decades, the establishment served generations of local shoppers and formed a core part of the South Street commercial strip prior to its closure notice.
Which National Chains Have Departed Romford Shopping Centres?
Commercial shopping precincts in Romford have experienced corresponding shifts in tenant occupation, with several corporate brands shutting existing branches.
At The Liberty Shopping Centre, national toy retailer The Entertainer shuttered its branch, withdrawing its physical presence from the central shopping arcade. The venue was accompanied by fashion retailer Select Fashion, which also ceased trading and handed back its lease at The Liberty earlier this year.
Furthermore, fashion accessories and jewellery retailer Claire’s exited the town centre. The brand permanently closed its outlet situated within The Brewery shopping venue, adding to the vacant units recorded across Romford’s primary retail destinations during 2026.
Background of Romford Retail Developments
The closures recorded across Romford reflect broader ongoing structural adjustments within suburban retail centres across Greater London and Essex. High street locations have faced heightened operational costs, shifts in consumer purchasing towards online channels, and changing footfall patterns in town centres.
Independent traders and legacy stores, such as Parmars and Ellie’s Finishing Touches, operate under business models heavily dependent on direct physical footfall. Meanwhile, national chains operating within managed venues like The Liberty and The Brewery continue to evaluate store footprints to optimise retail portfolios in response to changing macroeconomic factors.
How Will These Developments Affect Local Shoppers and Business Owners?
The reduction in active retail units directly alters the commercial mix available to local shoppers in Romford, reducing the variety of specialized independent goods and national retail choices within walking distance.
For surrounding business owners, persistent vacancies in major footfall zones such as South Street and core shopping complexes present risks of reduced cross-shopping activity. Town centre managers and commercial property owners face the task of re-leasing these prominent units to maintain retail continuity and support ongoing footfall across Romford’s shopping districts.
