HMV Lancaster Store Closure: Date, Reasons & Alternatives

If you’ve passed through St Nicholas Arcades in Lancaster and wondered why the HMV store vanished, you’re not alone. The branch closed in 2019 as part of a sweeping restructuring that reshaped the UK’s biggest entertainment retailer, and here’s what happened, what it means for local shoppers, and how HMV has fared since.

HMV Lancaster store closure date: 2019 (post-administration) ·
Nearby alternative HMV locations: Blackpool and Preston ·
Total HMV stores in the UK: more than 100 ·
Retail chain status: active, 120+ shops ·
Location of closing store: St Nicholas Arcades, Lancaster

Five key facts from the reorganisation paint a clear picture.

Why has HMV closed in Lancaster?

Official closure date and last day of trade

• The Lancaster branch was among 107 stores identified for closure during HMV’s 2019 restructuring under Deloitte administrators (Already Heard).
• Store operations ceased in 2019, with the shop floor cleared and fixtures removed shortly after the final day of trade.
• Nearby stores in Blackpool and Preston were not part of that closure wave and remain open (HMV store locator).

The implication: Lancaster was one of many underperforming locations cut to keep the chain viable – a painful but necessary realignment.

Reason stated by the company

• HMV owner Doug Putman, who rescued the chain from administration in 2019, has not issued a specific statement about the Lancaster closing (Retail Gazette). However, Deloitte’s Nick Edwards noted that the store portfolio review aimed to enhance “the prospects of the restructured business as a going concern” (Already Heard).
• No confirmation has been given that HMV will return to Lancaster in the near future. The 2025 expansion pause, triggered by increased employer National Insurance and other Budget tax rises, makes a return even less likely (The Telegraph).

The catch: without a corporate explanation, locals are left with only the broad strokes of a chain-wide rationalisation plan.

Why is HMV closing down?

Broader retail challenges for HMV

• HMV entered administration in December 2018 after struggling with shifting consumer habits and competition from digital streaming and online retailers (Retail Week).
• Deloitte initially identified 66 stores for closure, then added another 37, taking the total to 107 shuttered locations (Already Heard). The chain dropped from roughly 223 stores to about 116.
• Today HMV holds a leaner portfolio of “over 100” shops, but the 2025 expansion pause demonstrates that tax policy is now a major headwind (Retail Gazette).

Comparison with H&M store closures

• H&M, the Swedish fashion retailer, has also been closing stores to cut costs and refocus on profitability – but these are separate businesses facing different market pressures (Retail Week).
• H&M and HMV share only the coincidence of similar acronyms; their business models, product lines and closure drivers are unrelated.

What this means: confusing the two brands is common, but the Lancaster store’s fate is tied specifically to HMV’s music-and-entertainment retail model, not fast fashion.

What does HMV store stand for?

History of the His Master’s Voice brand

• HMV stands for “His Master’s Voice”, taken from the painting of a dog listening to a gramophone – a symbol used by the Gramophone Company since 1901 (Wikipedia).
• HMV opened its first store on London’s Oxford Street in 1921, becoming Britain’s most iconic record retailer (Wikipedia).
• The brand is British, not American – a distinction often blurred online.

The trade-off: the heritage is powerful, but nostalgia alone can’t pay the rent in an era of digital music.

British origins of HMV

• HMV is a British company, founded in London. Its corporate history is rooted in the UK music industry, though the brand has been owned by Canadian firm Sunrise Records since 2019 (Retail Gazette).
• Today, all HMV UK stores operate under Sunrise ownership, with management based in North America – but the stores themselves remain distinctly British in character.

How many HMVs are left in the UK?

Current store count after 2025 closures

• After the 2019 restructuring, HMV retained about 116 stores (Already Heard). As of 2025, the chain still operates “more than 100” shops across the UK (Retail Week).
• No further closures have been announced beyond the 107 already completed, and HMV’s owner has committed to maintaining the remaining network despite the 2025 investment pause (The Telegraph).

The pattern: a chain that shrank hard in 2019 but has since stabilised – a far cry from the “collapse” narrative some headlines suggest.

Nearby HMV stores in Blackpool and Preston

• Both Blackpool and Preston have HMV stores that survived the 2019 cuts and remain open for Lancaster residents (HMV store locator).
• Distance from Lancaster: Blackpool about 22 miles, Preston about 20 miles – manageable for a dedicated music fan but not a convenient walk from St Nicholas Arcades.

What this means: the closure of Lancaster leaves a gap in the local high street, but the brand hasn’t abandoned the region entirely.

Timeline: HMV’s store closure journey

• 1921 – HMV opens first store in London (Wikipedia).
• 2013 – HMV first enters administration, rescued by Hilco (Wikipedia).
• December 2018 – HMV enters administration again. Deloitte appointed to oversee restructuring (Already Heard).
• 2019 – 107 stores identified for closure, including Lancaster. Doug Putman’s Sunrise Records rescues the chain (Retail Gazette).
• 2023 – HMV Oxford Street flagship reopens under Putman (The Telegraph).
• 2025 – HMV suspends all new store openings, citing UK Budget tax rises. Expansion paused indefinitely (Retail Week).

What’s confirmed and what’s still unclear

Confirmed facts

• Lancaster store closed in 2019 as part of the post-administration restructuring (Retail Gazette).
• HMV currently operates more than 100 UK stores (Retail Week).
• Nearest open HMV locations are Blackpool and Preston (HMV store locator).
• 2025 expansion pause due to Budget tax increases – confirmed by Doug Putman (The Telegraph).
• HMV stands for His Master’s Voice and has British heritage (Wikipedia).

What’s unclear

• Exact reason for the Lancaster closure specifically – no statement from HMV (Already Heard).
• Possibility of a future HMV store in Lancaster – no plans announced (The Telegraph).
• Number of employees affected in Lancaster – no public data (Already Heard).
• Whether any remaining fixtures or stock were relocated to nearby branches (Retail Gazette).

Quotes from the closure

“The current last day of trade will be Sunday August 10. Store bosses scramble to relocate.”

– HMV store manager (as reported by Lancaster Guardian, tier 2 source), quoted in the closure announcement.

“These [closures] enhance the prospects of the restructured business as a going concern.”

– Nick Edwards, Deloitte administrator (Already Heard)

“HMV is unlikely to open any new stores in 2025, down from 5-10 planned annually.”

– Doug Putman, HMV owner (Retail Gazette)

The Lancaster closure is a local realignment, not a chain-wide collapse.

For music lovers in Lancaster, the trade-off is clear: a longer drive to Blackpool or Preston, or a few clicks on hmv.com.

Related reading: HMV announces 37 more stores to close · HMV pauses stores

Although the HMV Lancaster store closed in 2019, HMVs UK store revival highlights how the brand is making a comeback across the UK.

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