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Scotsman
3 days ago
- Business
- Scotsman
Sadness as famous name departs UK high streets
Yet that stalwart of British shopping, WHSmith, is disappearing from the nation's high streets for good. The stationery giant agreed earlier this year to sell its high street shops to the Hobbycraft owner, Modella Capital. The new owner is taking over around 480 stores with 5,000 staff but is rebranding the high street chain as TGJones - a name it said has the same 'sense of family' as WHSmith. WHSmith stores will continue to operate under the traditional name at airports and railway stores across the UK and abroad. Posting on Instagram on June 30, WHSmith said: 'After 200 years, today we say goodbye to our high street business. 'We're proud to have been a part of the UK high street, working alongside many fantastic colleagues. 'But today, we're a global travel retailer who serves customers on the go from stores across the world. So now is the right time for the high street business to move forward under new owners. 'A massive thank you to all our customers and colleagues for your support over the years. See you on your next journey soon! 'For all your books, stationery and gifting needs, make sure you follow and head to your nearest @tgjonesuk.' Customers have reacted to the news with great sadness. One person wrote: 'Thank you WHSmith for keeping me stocked up with school supplies as a child and books as an adult. You will be greatly missed!' Another person commented: 'It's a sad day. WHSmith played a big part of my childhood and getting my favourite magazines such as Jackie, Just Seventeen and Smash Hits. And a third person said: 'This is so sad! WHSmith was my window to another world! I would get all my mags from here, even recently before the one in Wolverhampton train station closed.' But another person pointed out that WHSmith had sold its high street stores 'whilst you retain the arm at airports and stations that charges £3 for a bar of chocolate that costs 80p everywhere else'. WHSmith was founded in 1792, with Henry Walton Smith and his wife Anna opening the first shop on Little Grosvenor Street, in London. The first travel outlet opened at London's Euston railway station in 1848, and the firm now has more than 1,700 stores across more than 30 countries. These nostalgic photos look back WHSmith over the years in the UK, from early black and white photos to pictures of celebrity book signings and customers queueing for the latest Harry Potter books during the noughties. What are your memories of WHSmith and what do you think of another famous name disappearing from the UK's high streets? Let us know in the comments section. 1 . 80s computer A young boy looking at Acorn Electron computer and monitor in a WHSmith shop in Waterloo, London, in December 1984 | Getty Images Photo: Terry Disney/Daily Express/Hulton Archive Photo Sales 2 . 1920s WH Smith & Sons, Isle of Wight, in around the 1920s | Getty Images Photo: Kirk and Sons of Cowes/Heritage Images Photo Sales 3 . Book signing Excited fans wait in the queue for Katie Price at her book signing at WHSmith in Lancaster | National World Photo: Garth Hamer Photo Sales 4 . Trevor Brooking The England and West Ham footballer Trevor Brooking signs books at WHSmith in Ilford in October 1981 | Getty Images Photo: Steve Rapport Photo Sales
Scotsman
3 days ago
- Business
- Scotsman
Sadness as famous name departs UK high streets
Yet that stalwart of British shopping, WHSmith, is disappearing from the nation's high streets for good. The stationery giant agreed earlier this year to sell its high street shops to the Hobbycraft owner, Modella Capital. The new owner is taking over around 480 stores with 5,000 staff but is rebranding the high street chain as TGJones - a name it said has the same 'sense of family' as WHSmith. WHSmith stores will continue to operate under the traditional name at airports and railway stores across the UK and abroad. Posting on Instagram on June 30, WHSmith said: 'After 200 years, today we say goodbye to our high street business. 'We're proud to have been a part of the UK high street, working alongside many fantastic colleagues. 'But today, we're a global travel retailer who serves customers on the go from stores across the world. So now is the right time for the high street business to move forward under new owners. 'A massive thank you to all our customers and colleagues for your support over the years. See you on your next journey soon! 'For all your books, stationery and gifting needs, make sure you follow and head to your nearest @tgjonesuk.' Customers have reacted to the news with great sadness. One person wrote: 'Thank you WHSmith for keeping me stocked up with school supplies as a child and books as an adult. You will be greatly missed!' Another person commented: 'It's a sad day. WHSmith played a big part of my childhood and getting my favourite magazines such as Jackie, Just Seventeen and Smash Hits. And a third person said: 'This is so sad! WHSmith was my window to another world! I would get all my mags from here, even recently before the one in Wolverhampton train station closed.' But another person pointed out that WHSmith had sold its high street stores 'whilst you retain the arm at airports and stations that charges £3 for a bar of chocolate that costs 80p everywhere else'. WHSmith was founded in 1792, with Henry Walton Smith and his wife Anna opening the first shop on Little Grosvenor Street, in London. The first travel outlet opened at London's Euston railway station in 1848, and the firm now has more than 1,700 stores across more than 30 countries. These nostalgic photos look back WHSmith over the years in the UK, from early black and white photos to pictures of celebrity book signings and customers queueing for the latest Harry Potter books during the noughties. What are your memories of WHSmith and what do you think of another famous name disappearing from the UK's high streets? Let us know in the comments section. 1 . 80s computer A young boy looking at Acorn Electron computer and monitor in a WHSmith shop in Waterloo, London, in December 1984 | Getty Images Photo: Terry Disney/Daily Express/Hulton Archive Photo Sales 2 . 1920s WH Smith & Sons, Isle of Wight, in around the 1920s | Getty Images Photo: Kirk and Sons of Cowes/Heritage Images Photo Sales 3 . Book signing Excited fans wait in the queue for Katie Price at her book signing at WHSmith in Lancaster | National World Photo: Garth Hamer Photo Sales 4 . Trevor Brooking The England and West Ham footballer Trevor Brooking signs books at WHSmith in Ilford in October 1981 | Getty Images Photo: Steve Rapport Photo Sales
The Sun
5 days ago
- Lifestyle
- The Sun
Five cash-saving ideas for upcycling your glass jars, pots and bottles
IF you have a glut of glass jars, pots and bottles, here are some smashing ideas. They can be used to organise your bits and bobs or create eye-catching items for your home. 7 Jars could also be the starting point for summer crafts, and a way of creating low-cost presents others will love. PUT A LID ON IT: If you have a stack of glass dessert pots, turn them into see-through, stackable storage. Did you know the lids from Pringles are the perfect size to fit the tops of Gu desserts? You can also buy sealed bamboo lids, from £4.99, pudding to transform the glass dessert pots into smart storage. CREATIVE WITH COLOUR: You can get a pack of eight glass paints from The Range, £2.99, and use them to transform glass jars and pots. It is the perfect activity to keep the kids busy during the summer holidays. They can create pretty vases and colourful pen pots from jam jars or tea light holders from glass pots. These could even be gifts for friends and family. BRIGHT IDEA: You can even use them to create your own candles, with soy candle making kits from Amazon for less than £10. Find other brilliant ideas at where there is a whole page dedicated to the 'ramekin reuse revolution'. BOTTLE THE MAGIC: You may have seen mini lights that turn an empty bottle into an indoor lamp. Hobbycraft have bottle lights from £3.50, so you can turn an empty bottle into twinkly indoor or outdoor lantern. You can use any bottle, but the pretty blue glass of the Baron Amarillo Rias Baixas Albarino wine, £8.99 from Aldi, will look amazing. And you get to enjoy a tipple too! Home whizz praised for the genius way she upcycles her old coffee jars, and it's SO easy MATCH OF THE DAY: Group matching pots together for the smartest storage. Pretty jars are perfect in the bathroom to store cotton wool balls and hair bands. Use ones with matching lids to store seeds and spices in the kitchen for perfectly organised pantry-style storage. All prices on page correct at time of going to press. Deals and offers subject to availability Deal of the day COOL for a kid's room, the Scion Mr Fox rug from Habitat is down from £43.55 to £32.50. Cheap treat 7 GET stuck into a summer read with bestseller The Garnett Girls by Georgina Moore, down from £14.99 to £3, at The hardback also makes a great gift. Top swap A CLASSIC swingball set, £20 from Argos, will be a summer hit. Or you can play with the set from The Range for £9.99. Shop & save GIVE busy fingers a summer project with the half price colour-in cardboard RHS shed from Hobbycraft, down from £20 to £10. Hot right now SAVE 25 per cent or more on Dulux paint at B&M, where a 2.5l pot of Walls & Ceilings matt paint is down from £22 to £16. PLAY NOW TO WIN £200 7 JOIN thousands of readers taking part in The Sun Raffle. Every month we're giving away £100 to 250 lucky readers - whether you're saving up or just in need of some extra cash, The Sun could have you covered. Every Sun Savers code entered equals one Raffle ticket. The more codes you enter, the more tickets you'll earn and the more chance you will have of winning!
The Sun
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Five heart-warming but budget-friendly gifts to say thank you to teachers
WITH school about to be out for summer, it's time to say thank you to teachers everywhere. But this year, skip pricey presents and make your own budget versions instead. 7 These gifts are sure to get you top marks . . . SWEET SAVING: Whip up an easy chocolate fudge using condensed milk, 88p, and dark chocolate, £1.77, both Asda. Break up the chocolate in a heatproof bowl and add your condensed milk and pop it in the microwave. Heat it in 15 second bursts until the chocolate is melted and give it a stir. Pour into a deep-set tray lined with baking paper and leave to cool before putting in the fridge. Once set, cut into chunks and package in a rustic baking paper parcel, ready to give to the teacher. POT OF JOY: Make your own herb garden by upcycling an old plant pot with a lick of paint (or you can pick up a couple of Sojabona pots at Ikea, £1 each). Take cuttings from existing herbs you have at home, such as basil or mint, and replant them in separate pots. Add ribbon, 99p, Wilko, to complete your gift. LIGHT WORK: Luxury candles come with a hefty price tag, so make your own. I'm a teacher & there are four end of term gifts I can't STAND receiving The Range is selling a Deluxe Candle kit for £4.99 with everything you need to make two pretty pillar candles. Make one for the teacher and keep one for yourself. TOP OF THE GLASS: Head to your local charity shop to find a glass vase you can revamp and pick up a pack of glass markers for £3 at Hobbycraft. Give the vase a wash with soapy water. Once it's dry, use the markers to write a personal thank you message for your teacher. HOMEWORK HAMPER: Make a 'summer holiday survival kit' or 'homework hamper' with a DIY hamper kit at The set comes with a basket, cellophane, stuffing and ribbon and costs £5.99. You could fill this with a range of budget treats such as chocolate, notepads, toiletries or pens, and add a bottle of the pretty Lidl Primitivo Rosato IGT Puglia wine, currently reduced to £4.50 when you scan your Lidl Plus app. All prices on page correct at time of going to press. Deals and offers subject to availability. Deal of the day 7 ADD some summer shade with the Living and Home tilted parasol with rattan effect base. It was £272, now £59 at Homebase. Cheap treat HEAD to a Home Bargains shop near you to pick up the Peppa Pig Rainy Day Dress-Up Figure, usually £9.99, now £6.99. STYLE your hair with the BaByliss rose-quartz 38mm curling tong, £34.99, or get the TRESemmé large curling tong, £27.99, both Shop & save THIS stylish metal 30L pedal bin will look great in any kitchen. Previously £30, now £19.99 at Hot right now GIVE the garden a little lift with 25 per cent off plant pots and ornaments at B&Q right now. PLAY NOW TO WIN £200 7 JOIN thousands of readers taking part in The Sun Raffle. Every month we're giving away £100 to 250 lucky readers - whether you're saving up or just in need of some extra cash, The Sun could have you covered. Every Sun Savers code entered equals one Raffle ticket.
The Sun
14-07-2025
- The Sun
I'm a packing expert, five easy ways to make sure your holiday clothes are crease free
THOUSANDS of Scots are jetting off on sunny hols this summer. And while it's lovely to get away, packing can be a nightmare. You get everything washed and ironed, but by the time you arrive at the hotel, everything is a creased mess. 2 But travel expert Noor de Swart, founder and CEO of Super Label Store, has shared budget tips that help keep your wardrobe fresh and wrinkle-free without ever touching an iron. SHAKE AND SMOOTH Proper handling is key to preventing stubborn wrinkles from forming. If you're living out of a suitcase or hotel room, give clothes a quick shake then hang your clothes as soon as you arrive. Most people unpack and immediately fold or stack their clothing again, which just sets in the wrinkles. IRON BAN Investing in a travel iron or portable steamed can be pricey. But Noor says you don't need anything fancy - a bathroom works just as well. Hang garments in the bathroom while taking a hot shower. The steam works especially well with lightweight or delicate fabrics. The packing pro also suggests taking a travel-sized spray bottle to lightly mist clothes with water before hanging them up. And you can grab a four-pack of travel bottles for just £1.50 in B&M. ROLL WITH IT The clothing expert has a simple trick that will help your clothes arrive in better shape at your destination – tissue paper. And you can grab three packs at Hobbycraft at the moment for just £3. Why you should NEVER use airport charging stations and which foods and drinks to avoid, warns travel expert When packing, place tissue paper between layers of clothing. It creates a soft buffer and helps prevent the pressure wrinkles. Meanwhile, roll garments instead of folding – especially for knitwear and casual shirts. It not only saves space, but also helps minimise hard crease lines that are tough to shake out on the road. LIGHTLY DOES IT It may be tempting to fill every inch of a carry-on, but overpacking doesn't help your clothes. Garments packed too tightly have no room to shift, so every crease becomes set. Leaving space means your garments can breathe, and it's easier to shake out wrinkles. SQUARE DEAL Use packing cubes to get the most out of your space. If you pack cubes loosely and sort by fabric type it means you're not compressing wrinkle-prone items like linen with heavier ones like denim. Primark currently stocks a set of three mesh cubes for just £8.
