An iconic retailer has closed its doors in Oxford this week, leaving its loyal customers heartbroken. HMV on Cornmarket Street shut on April 22 after its landlord decided not to renew its lease despite successfully trading there for decades. The go-to music and entertainment shop was based inside the Clarendon Centre, which is undergoing major redevelopment that is expected to continue until 2028 or 2029. 

However, HMV had been hopeful it was able to stay open, saying they had “"no intention to stop serving our loyal customers in Oxford". The major chain has offered slight reassurance to customers as they are actively looking for a new site nearby to reopen the branch, asking potential landlords with available space to get in touch.

The retailer said that its nearby stores in High Wycombe and Banbury "will all remain open".

This is not the first time that Oxford’s HMV has closed down within its 30 years of opening. After shutting for seven years, it returned to the Clarendon Centre in 2021. This was a result of collapsing into administration in 2013, which led to nationwide store closures. 

During that seven-year period, it fell back into administration in 2018 after initially being saved, before it was given a lifeline by Sunrise Records, a Canadian company that bought HMV in 2019. 

Following this, HMV rebuilt its iconic and beloved brand and continued trading successfully in more than 100 stores across the UK. 

Despite its Oxford closure, HMV has been thriving elsewhere across the country with its return to London’s Oxford Street last year. This followed its previous closure there four years ago. 

Britain’s high streets have taken a major hit over the past few years, with many stores loved by Brits closing their doors due to soaring costs and reduced footfall. This week, the arts and crafts store Hobbycraft announced nine branch closures, with the potential of 18 more to shut.