Clarks Shoe Shop Announces High Street Departure
Planned closure appears to be part of broader corporate strategy
No explanation is given for the shop's closure
October 20, 2026
Posters appearing in the shopfront window of 94 Putney High Street have announced the imminent closure of the local Clarks shoe store. The store has provided no exact date for its final day of trading, and the posters give no reason for the shutdown. The notices simply direct local shoppers to alternative nearby branches located in Hammersmith and Clapham Junction. Clarks has not responded to requests for further information regarding the closure.
This marks the end of a retail presence believed to have spanned at least 18 years.
The closure of the Putney branch appears to be part of a broader corporate pivot rather than a sign of financial distress for the footcare business. Clarks entered a Company Voluntary Arrangement in 2020 which meant that creditors had to accept a haircut on what they were owed. Private equity firm LionRock Capital acquired a majority stake in the business after injecting £100 million in fresh capital, while the founding Clark family retained a minority stake.
The restructuring has successfully restored financial health. The company returned to profit last year, making £31.1 million after tax—a significant turnaround from a loss of £39.3 million in 2024. Under LionRock Capital's ownership, Clarks' strategic focus has shifted away from UK high streets toward international markets. While dozens of UK high street stores have shuttered in recent years, the company has actively opened new overseas locations, with a key expansion focus on China.
Though traditionally famous for fitting school shoes for children across generations, company financial reports indicate that around 80 percent of Clarks' total sales are in adult sizes. Known historically for practical, hard-wearing footwear rather than fashion-forward trends, the brand continues to adapt its physical footprint to modern retail demands. While Clarks says it continues to open select new stores elsewhere, Putney residents looking for classic footwear fittings are directed by the notices in the window to Hammersmith or Clapham Junction.
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