WHSmith shuts down trendy souvenir shops just three years after opening in bitter blow to travellers – see the full list

WHSMITH is to shut down branches of its trendy souvenir shops just three years after opening them in a blow to travellers. The retailer launched its high-end stationary and souvenir shops called Curi.o.city in 2023. WHSmith is to close down three branches of its Curi.o.city chain Credit: Handout The shops sell gifts, stationery and souvenirs, helping to fill part of the gap left by Paperchase, which collapsed into administration that year. WHSmith also hired former Paperchase head-office employees and moved Curi.o.city into some sites previously occupied by the failed stationery chain. Sign up for the Money newsletter Thank you! Curi.o.city currently has branches at major airports, railway stations and department stores in the UK, as well as a shop in Australia. But WHSmith is now reducing the size of the chain as it looks to shrink its bricks-and-mortar estate, according to Retail Week. The Curi.o.city shops set to close are: St Pancras International, London Gatwick Airport North Terminal Gatwick Airport South Terminal It means the brand will disappear from Gatwick Airport altogether. However, WHSmith will continue to operate Curi.o.city shops at: Most read in Money Bristol Airport Belfast City Airport Selfridges Birmingham Selfridges Manchester Curi.o.city was designed to offer a more upmarket range than a traditional WHSmith shop, with products tailored to the location of each branch. It sells travel gifts, cards, notebooks, accessories and souvenirs celebrating the city or region in which the shop is based. The closures are separate from changes affecting WHSmith’s former high-street business – TJ Jones. WHSmith sold its UK high-street division to Modella Capital, while retaining its travel business, which operates shops in airports, railway stations and hospitals. But now, more than 100 TG Jones stores are set to close for good as part of a major restructuring approved by the High Court in July. The travel arm remains under the ownership of the listed WHSmith group. WHSmith has been contacted for comment. Comment now