Russell & Bromley’s store at the Westgate shopping centre has been left empty after the huge UK shoe brand collapsed into administration.

Oxford residents believe traffic measures have resulted in the major brand being forced to leave the shopping centre.

Reader Ryan Judd said: “If Oxford wasn’t so car unfriendly and encouraged people to travel into the city centre then things may be different for the Westgate.

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“The trouble is park and rides are pricey, restrict you to timetables, and take ages because they keep stopping. Maybe Oxford should consider opening back up to cars.”

Another comment from Ashley Cooper added: “The congestion charge is a factor. Reduced customers.

“Not that this was predicted. Oxford will be a ghost town soon with graffiti and coffee shops. Vape shops and barbers next.”

Russell & Bromley is closing at the Westgate. (Image: Newsquest)

Shopper Mark Storey reminisced on the previous character of the high street.

He said: “Oxford was great back in the day with free parking in St Giles on a Sunday. I used to love wandering around. It is too much of a pain to take the car to Westgate now.”

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However, some residents disagreed about the traffic measures being the main reason.

Shopper Katie Cooke said: “This literally has nothing to do with Oxford’s congestion charge and the council.

“It’s people no longer buying Russell and Bromley’s horrible expensive shoes. It had shops all over the country, not just Oxford.”

Another comment from Harriet Whittam said: “They should have reduced their ridiculous prices. It’s a shame to see any business collapse.

“I feel sad for the individuals and the workforce, but they had fancy ideas, really very ordinary shoes and highly inflated prices.”

Similarly, Josh Brewer said: “This is nothing to do with local conditions and everything to do with the fact that a UK company has collapsed because shoppers have moved online.”

Karen Franklin urged visitors and residents alike to “just get park and ride, or normal buses. See the sights, colleges, river, pubs, and the theatre”.

Earlier in 2026, the business announced all but three of its 36 stores were at risk as they had not been bought in a rescue deal.

Next snapped up the luxury footwear business from administration in a rescue deal, but the future of most of the brand’s stores and 440 staff remained uncertain.

Closing signs then appeared at the Oxford-based Russell & Bromley store.

The unit, which is on the bottom floor of the retail location near John Lewis, now only has a paper notice on the door as a reminder alongside the Russell & Bromley signs.

More Russell & Bromley shops are closing in the coming weeks as the 146-year-old retailer winds down its operations under new ownership.

The financiers behind TG Jones are considering both store closures and rent cuts, according to The Sunday Times, as they bid to keep the struggling high street brand alive.

Private equity fund Modella Capital purchased around 500 WH Smith high street stores in early 2025 in a deal that cost between £40 million and £76 million.

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WH Smith, which had been a feature of the UK’s high streets for over two centuries, sold the stores in order to focus on its travel business.

This included a number of Oxfordshire-based premises, with Oxford, Didcot, Wantage, Abingdon, Witney and Chipping Norton all having shops which were subsequently rebranded as TG Jones.

TG Jones in Stroud town centre (Image: Newsquest)

When asked whether any of these stores are under threat the business refused to comment, with 5,000 people employed by the brand across the UK.

However, The Sunday Times has said that TG Jones is set to unveil new restructuring proposals, which could lead to up to 100 of its shops shutting down and rent cuts for its high street landlords.

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This would be done through a ‘cram-down’, a measure which would require Modella to prove to a High Court judge that the only alternative would be to put the business into administration.

According to the Financial Times, TG Jones was chosen as a completely new brand name last year to reflect that the business would be widespread across the country’s high streets.

As part of the deal to take over the business Modella agreed not to close any store for a year, with the end of that period currently approaching.

Carea has launched a Healing After Loss mode in its pregnancy and postnatal wellbeing app for women who have experienced miscarriage or pregnancy loss.

The new in-app section offers expert guidance, mental health resources, evidence-based information and access to a community of women with shared experiences. It is available free in the app. Existing users who report a loss can use it, while new users can access it without sharing sensitive personal details.

The launch is intended to address a gap in support around miscarriage and pregnancy loss in both healthcare and digital services. Many women continue to receive limited medical guidance after early pregnancy loss and face long waits for mental health support.

Data cited by Carea highlights the scale of the issue. One in four pregnancies in the UK ends in loss. Research has found that one month after early pregnancy loss, 29% of women meet the criteria for post-traumatic stress, 24% experience moderate to severe anxiety and 11% moderate to severe depression.

Support gap

Existing pregnancy apps can also fail women after miscarriage or baby loss. In some cases, users continue to receive foetal development updates or marketing messages that no longer reflect their circumstances.

Carea developed the feature following user research and feedback, as well as the experience of its founder, Anastasia Shubareva-Epshtein, who felt unsupported by healthcare systems and traditional pregnancy apps after her own miscarriage.

The mode includes breathwork, journaling, affirmations and meditations, alongside information intended to help women make medical and personal decisions after a loss. It is designed to support people regardless of how long ago the pregnancy loss occurred.

The launch comes as miscarriage care receives greater policy attention in the UK. Scotland has published a miscarriage patient charter, and Health Secretary Wes Streeting has said support in this area has been lacking.

Pregnancy losses before 24 weeks are not formally registered in the same way as stillbirths in the UK. Campaigners and patients argue that this leaves many women feeling their experience is not fully recognised within the system.

Carea, which describes itself as a maternal wellbeing platform, was founded in the UK and says it has been downloaded 10,000 times since launching in 2025. The app covers fertility, conception, pregnancy and postpartum support, with the new mode extending its focus to pregnancy loss recovery.

“We have heard from so many women that they feel like it is somehow their fault or they are feeling guilty or ashamed when they experience a pregnancy loss,” said Anastasia Shubareva-Epshtein, founder and CEO of Carea.

“I experienced first-hand how hard many pregnancy apps make it to report a loss and how insensitive and triggering the whole experience can be. You’re left feeling excluded at the very moment you need support most, with more questions than answers.

“Pregnancy loss is incredibly common, yet still shrouded in silence, and many women in the UK struggle to access the support and guidance they need. Knowing you’re not alone can make all the difference. Our Healing After Loss mode will ensure women are met with empathy, clear guidance and an understanding community, rather than feeling pushed to the side or unsupported at such a vulnerable time.”