LK Bennett, founded back in the 90s, entered administration in January, with John Noon and Mark Firmin of Alvarez & Marsal Europe LLP appointed joint administrators.

Immediately following their appointment, the LK Bennett brand and related intellectual property were sold to US firm Gordon Brothers, which also owns Laura Ashley and Poundland.

However, LK Bennett’s nine stand-alone and 13 concession stores were not included in the deal, leaving them at risk of closing.

Its website explains: “The LK Bennett stores were not included in the transaction and continue to trade under the Administration.”

All LK Bennett stores “are now closed”

All LK Bennett stores have now closed, according to the retailer’s website.

In an Instagram post on Saturday (April 25), the fashion retailer said: “We’re nearly at the end.

“With only 2 days remaining, tomorrow is your last moment to shop our collections in-store with everything up to 90% off.”

“Our boutiques will remain open today as long as stock lasts, but once it’s gone, our doors will close.”

But it appears all stock has been sold, as the LK Bennett website reads: “Website and stores are now closed.”

Full list of LK Bennett stores

The full list of LK Bennett stores that have closed is:

Stand-alone stores

• Lower Guildhall Mall (Bluewater)
• Canary Wharf (London)
• Eastgate Square Shopping Centre (Chester)
• Duke of York Square (London)
• Harrogate
• Knightsbridge (London)
• New Bond Street (London)
• Richmond
• White City Westfield (London)

Concession stores

• Arnotts (Dublin)
• The Bentall Centre (Kingston upon Thames)
• Brown Thomas (Dublin)
• De Gruchy (Jersey)
• Hoopers (Tunbridge Wells)
• Hoopers (Wilmslow)
• Jarrold (Norwich)
• John Lewis (Edinburgh)
• John Lewis (High Wycombe)
• John Lewis – Oxford Street (London)
• John Lewis (Manchester)
• John Lewis (Oxford)
• John Lewis (Cheadle)

‘Very sad day’ – shoppers react to closure of LK Bennett stores

Shoppers were quick to react to the closure of the remaining LK Bennett stores, taking to the Instagram post to share their thoughts.

One person commented: “Very sad day indeed. I will miss the lovely collection and the staff who was always attentive no matter which boutique you shopped.”

Another added: “Very sad day for the high street and more importantly the staff who have worked their shoes! Off- good luck to all of you.”

Other major UK companies that have closed or entered administration in 2026

It has been a tough start to 2026 for the UK high street, with a wide range of businesses entering administration or closing down.

Major high street retailers have been forced to close stores, including:

Several other retailers have fallen into administration, including:

Meanwhile, four UK travel companies have closed in 2026:

EcoJet Airlines, billed as “the world’s first Electric Airline”, also entered liquidation after just three years, resulting in the cancellation of all planned flights.

What has a nose, wings and runs off of hydrogen? Ecojet 😎 pic.twitter.com/y8QGiBdFe2

— ecotricity (@ecotricity) July 17, 2023

UK delivery company Yodel is set to be phased out over the coming months after being acquired by InPost.

It’s also been reported that Morrisons is looking to sell some of its in-store pharmacies as it continues to cut costs.

It’s not been all bad news for the UK high street, with several major brands announcing new store openings for 2026, including Aldi, M&S, and Superdrug.

Are you saddened by the closure of all LK Bennett stores? Let us know in the comments below.

The Eagle and Child in St Giles, renowned for its links with fantasy writers JRR Tolkien and CS Lewis, closed in March 2020 and has not reopened since.

Renovation work is taking place and builders have fenced off the parking bays outside the pub.

READ MORE: Renovation work at historic pub well under way

Now the fencing is being used to show passers-by what the historic pub is expected to look like when it reopens in 2027.

How the Eagle and Child could look in 2027 (Image: Ellison Institute of Technology)

Artists’ impressions show how the pub will be modernised, while retaining its links with the past.

New owner, American science company the Ellison Institute of Technology (EIT), has been moving ahead with plans to revamp it, and expects to welcome customers again in 2027.

The technology institute, owned by billionaire Larry Ellison, is reported to have paid $10.7m for the pub – about £8m – when it was sold by St John’s College in 2023.

How the Eagle and Child could look inside (Image: Ellison Institute of Technology)

The institute is working with the company owned by world-famous architect Norman Foster for the redesign of the pub.

The area at the front of the building has been fenced off, with a sign telling pedestrians the pavement will be shut off “from September 2025 until March 2027”, and scaffolding has been erected.

The institute has said previously the pub is expected to reopen next year.

How the Eagle and Child could look inside (Image: Ellison Institute of Technology)

Dave Richardson, a spokesman for the Oxford branch of CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale) said earlier this year: “I understand there is now quite a lot of work going on, particularly where you can’t see the building from St Giles.

“I hope the pub is on course to reopen on schedule next year. We have missed the pub and I know Tolkien fans have missed it as well.

“From our point of view we would like to see an independent operator hired to run the Eagle and Child.

“The fear is that if a large chain is given the role it will then put its corporate stamp on the place.

“We want to see it thrive and it would be good to see it in independent hands.”

How the Eagle and Child could look inside (Image: The Ellison Institute of Technology)

Working closely with heritage architects Donald Insall Associates, Norman Foster’s practice is employing “a conservation-led” approach to restoring and preserve as much of the original building as possible.

There will be “light-touch” interventions within the pub’s two historic parlour rooms and famous ‘Rabbit Room’, where the Inklings group once met, maintaining a sense of familiarity.

Gerard Evenden, head of studio at Foster and Partners, said earlier: “The design preserves the unique character of The Eagle and Child and respects its many layers of history.

“Our sensitive interventions will create an all-day meeting place by introducing an adjacent café and inspirational workspaces for EIT across the upper levels.

“The scheme is stitched together by a newly landscaped garden and restored passageway between the café and the pub – new social spaces that transition effortlessly from day to night.”

The Ellison Institute of Technology has been contacted for comment.

mhance has appointed Andy Cowdrill as Chief Revenue Officer following its acquisition by SilverTree Equity.

Cowdrill joins the Microsoft partner with more than 20 years of experience in UK enterprise technology, including 15 years in Microsoft-related roles. He has held senior sales leadership and digital transformation positions at Microsoft, Ciber and Pythagoras.

He will oversee a combined commercial structure spanning sales, pre-sales, marketing, alliances and sales development. The appointment comes as mhance expands its work across Microsoft Dynamics 365, Azure, Power Platform, and Data & AI.

His remit includes driving growth in mhance’s existing vertical markets and expanding into adjacent sectors through both organic activity and acquisitions.

Growth plan

The business has been reshaping its strategy since its acquisition by London-based private equity firm SilverTree Equity in 2025. It is aiming to deepen its position as a Microsoft-focused partner while broadening its sector reach.

mhance has an established presence in the not-for-profit market and is targeting industries including distribution and construction. It plans to continue investing in both sector-specific and broader offerings.

Chris Allan, Chief Executive Officer of mhance, said the appointment would support the company’s next phase of growth.

“The appointment of Andy Cowdrill as Chief Revenue Officer is another significant building block in our strategy to evolve mhance into a scalable, high-growth leader within the Microsoft ecosystem. Andy’s deep understanding of the Microsoft landscape and his proven ability to build high-performing teams make him the ideal leader to drive our next phase of growth. As we continue to position mhance as a Microsoft-first, AI-enabled partner, his leadership will be critical in connecting our technology capabilities to the tangible business outcomes our customers expect,” Allan said.

Cowdrill takes up the post as Microsoft-focused software and services providers respond to changing customer demand for cloud, data and artificial intelligence tools. The market has also seen consolidation among partners as firms seek broader reach and tighter integration across product lines.

His role is intended to bring revenue-related functions together under a single leadership structure, a model often used by technology companies to align sales, channel relationships and marketing activity more closely.

Sector focus

Against that backdrop, mhance has been building scale in core Microsoft software and services. Its portfolio centres on business applications and related tools used by not-for-profit and commercial customers undertaking digital transformation programmes.

The company plans to build on its existing strength in the not-for-profit segment while expanding further in selected commercial industries, including distribution and construction.

Cowdrill described the role as a continuation of his work in the Microsoft partner market.

“Joining mhance feels like a natural progression given the strength of its customer base and the clarity of its strategic direction. The opportunity is significant, particularly as the Microsoft partner landscape continues to evolve and consolidate.”

“Our immediate focus will be on deepening relationships across our existing customer base while building a scalable go-to-market engine that supports long-term, sustainable growth. From there, we will continue to expand our presence in key vertical sectors while bringing the full breadth of the Microsoft platform across cloud, data and AI to our customers in a more integrated, outcome-focused way,” Cowdrill said.