HMV to close Oxford Street flagship in March 2027, three years after reopening
HMV says it will leave its 363 Oxford Street store in March next year, blaming a proposed doubling of rent and renovation costs, while seeking a new West End flagship. It says trading is strong elsewhere.
1 / 4
The story, neutrally told
Mixed · 2HMV has announced it will close its flagship store at 363 Oxford Street in London in March next year, three years after reopening the site. Evening StandardN “HMV has announced plans to close its flagship Oxford Street store just three years after reopening the site.” Read at Evening Standard ↗ City A.M.RC “The music and entertainment retailer said the site will shut its doors in March next year” Read at City A.M. ↗ Centre · 1The group said landlords have proposed doubling the rent and that it also faces a bill for "substantial" renovation works, which together would make the shop "commercially unsustainable". Evening StandardN “The group said landlords have proposed doubling the rent on the site at 363 Oxford Street, although it said it was also facing a bill for “substantial” renovation works at the store, which together would make the shop “commercially unsustainable”.” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Right · 1Managing director Phil Halliday called it "a special store" where the chain began 100 years ago, and said: "It’s frustrating that it has been made commercially unviable." Daily ExpressR ““It’s frustrating that it has been made commercially unviable.” Read at Daily Express ↗
Centre · 1HMV says it is actively looking for a new West End site for a flagship store and has vowed to keep a "significant presence" in the capital. Evening StandardN “HMV said it is hunting for a site in London’s West End district for its new flagship shop as it vowed to keep a “significant presence” in the capital.” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Mixed · 2Metro reports that just over 50 workers are affected; HMV says it hopes to redeploy staff through other London stores and head office roles and is exploring ways to minimise the impact on jobs. MetroLC “impacting just over 50 workers” Read at Metro ↗ City A.M.RC “We hope to redeploy affected team members through other London stores and head office roles and are exploring ways to minimise the impact on jobs while we seek a new flagship site.” Read at City A.M. ↗ Mixed · 2HMV said the closure comes despite robust trading, with group like-for-like sales up 15% in the first nine months of 2026 and revenues from shops and online set to exceed £240 million this year, up from £212 million in 2025. Evening StandardN “with like-for-like sales up 15% across the group in the first nine months of 2026 and revenues for both shops and online trading set to reach over £240 million this year, up from £212 million in 2025” Read at Evening Standard ↗ City A.M.RC “HMV is on track to notch £240m in revenue across its in-store and online estate this year” Read at City A.M. ↗
Mixed · 2The chain first opened on the site in 1921 and shut it in 2019 when it fell into administration; Canadian Doug Putman's Sunrise Records rescued it, and the store reopened in November 2023 after a deal with landlords. Evening StandardN “The retailer – which first opened the Oxford Street site in 1921 – was rescued from insolvency by Canadian Doug Putman’s Sunrise Records business.” Read at Evening Standard ↗ MetroLC “HMV made a grand reopening of its historic Oxford Street store in November 2023 after a four-year absence following a deal secured with landlords.” Read at Metro ↗ Mixed · 2Outlets differ on store numbers: the Express, City A.M. and Evening Standard say HMV has 123 UK stores, while Metro says 113 UK stores including six Fopp sites, plus eight in Europe. Daily ExpressR “HMV has 123 stores across the UK.” Read at Daily Express ↗ MetroLC “HMV, which has 113 stores across the UK, including six sites under the Fopp brand, as well as another eight in Europe” Read at Metro ↗ Mixed · 2The Evening Standard notes the announcement comes two weeks before the first phase of Oxford Street's pedestrianisation begins on 26 October, while City A.M. places it amid retailers urging the government to help high streets cope with rising rents and taxes. Evening StandardN “The announcement comes two weeks before the first phase of Oxford Street’s pedestrianisation gets under way.” Read at Evening Standard ↗ City A.M.RC “as retailers urge the government to help high street businesses weather soaring rents and taxes” Read at City A.M. ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left1 outlet
- Framing
- Metro leads with the irony of a quick second closure and adds human and historical detail, including jobs affected and the 2019 rescue.
- Emphasis
- Staff numbers, redeployment, the 2023 reopening with Madness, Putman's rescue and redundancies.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not mention the pedestrianisation or the wider rents-and-taxes debate.
- Charged language
- “commercially unsustainable”
- For example
-
“Despite reopening merely three years ago, HMV on Oxford Street will be closing its doors again, impacting just over 50 workers.” — Metro
Centre1 outlet
- Framing
- The Evening Standard reports the company statement straight and ties it to the local context of Oxford Street's pedestrianisation.
- Emphasis
- Rent and renovation reasons; the pedestrianisation start date of 26 October.
- Leaves out or plays down
- No job numbers or wider retail-policy context.
- For example
-
“The announcement comes two weeks before the first phase of Oxford Street’s pedestrianisation gets under way.” — Evening Standard
Right2 outlets
- Framing
- The Express and City A.M. relay HMV's statement; City A.M. links the closure to high-street rent and tax pressures on retailers and the government.
- Emphasis
- Rent doubling, HMV's continued growth, and (City A.M.) calls for government help for retailers.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Neither mentions job numbers; the Express omits wider context and treats it as a breaking story.
- Charged language
- “huge update”“massive Oxford Street flagship store”“soaring rents and taxes”
- For example
-
“HMV issues huge update on massive Oxford Street flagship store” — Daily Express
“as retailers urge the government to help high street businesses weather soaring rents and taxes” — City A.M.
What every side reports
- HMV will close its Oxford Street flagship in March next year, three years after reopening it.
- HMV cites a proposed doubling of rent and substantial renovation costs.
- HMV says group like-for-like sales are up 15% and revenue will top £240m this year.
- HMV is seeking a new West End site and aims to redeploy affected staff.
Where accounts differ
-
Number of HMV UK stores
- Left
- Metro: 113 UK stores including six Fopp, plus eight in Europe.
- Centre
- Evening Standard: 123 UK stores.
- Right
- Express and City A.M.: 123 UK stores.
-
HMV's Oxford Street store will close in March 2027 because of a proposed doubling of rent and costly renovation works.
Reported- Supports 1
- Metro
- Reports 3
- Evening Standard, City A.M., Daily Express
-
HMV's group like-for-like sales rose 15% in the first nine months of 2026, despite the closure.
Reported- Reports 4
- Metro, Evening Standard, City A.M., Daily Express
-
HMV operates 123 stores in the UK.
Supported- Supports 3
- Evening Standard, City A.M., Daily Express
- Earlier 1
- Metro
HMV organisation
HMV blames the doubled rent proposal and renovation costs, stresses strong group trading and its commitment to high streets, and says it is seeking a new West End flagship and redeploying staff.
“The group said it remained committed to high street stores.” — Evening Standard
“We’re actively looking for a new location in the West End and are determined to give London a store that music fans can be proud of.” — Metro
Left1 article
-
MetroLC ·
HMV on Oxford Street to close just three years after reopening
Sympathetic Human-interest angle on a short-lived reopening, with jobs and history.
Centre1 article
-
HMV to close Oxford Street store three years after reopening historic site
Neutral Straight report of the statement plus Oxford Street pedestrianisation context.
Right2 articles
-
HMV issues huge update on massive Oxford Street flagship store
Neutral Company statement relayed under a hyped headline and breaking-news tag.
-
HMV shuts flagship Oxford Street store just three years after comeback
Critical Frames the closure against high rents and taxes facing retailers.
- 12 Oct 10:15 First MetroLC HMV on Oxford Street to close just three years after reopening
- 12 Oct 10:16 +1m Daily ExpressR HMV issues huge update on massive Oxford Street flagship store
- 12 Oct 10:21 +6m City A.M.RC HMV shuts flagship Oxford Street store just three years after comeback
- 12 Oct 10:21 +7m Evening StandardN HMV to close Oxford Street store three years after reopening historic site
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.