WHSmith brand set to VANISH from British high streets as firms place bids on 500 unwanted stores...

THE WHSmith brand name looks set to vanish from British high streets after 230 years.

The retail giant is working to offload its entire high street estate in order to focus on its fast-growing travel business of shops in airports and train stations.

For several weeks, WHSmith has been in discussions with a range of potential buyers regarding the sale of its high street stores.

The process, overseen by Greenhill Investment Boutique, has attracted interest from investment firms Alteri and Modella Capital.

Both firms are experts in acquiring and reviving struggling retailers, with initial bids for WHSmith's high street estate submitted last week.

Other potential buyers for the chain's 500 high street stores include Hilco, the former owner of Homebase, and Doug Putman, the current owner of HMV.

However, according to The Times, it's now understood that the sale of these stores will exclude the rights to the WHSmith brand name.

This means that even if all 500 stores are sold, the new owners will be required to operate them under a different name.

Potential buyers are expected to be given a set timeframe within which they must phase out the WHSmith branding.

That said, while negotiations are ongoing, it remains possible that the brand name could still be purchased outright as part of the deal.

If no such deal is reached, the 230 year old WHSmith name will remain exclusively associated with its travel-focused stores, located in train stations, airports, and other transit hubs.

WHSmith has been contacted for comment.

More high street closures on the way

WHSmith is set to close 10 high street stores in the coming months, following the closure of several branches earlier this year.

Shoppers in areas such as the West Midlands, London, and Greater Manchester will soon be saying goodbye to their local stores as part of the retailer’s ongoing downsizing efforts.

WHSmith, which operates around 1,100 stores, has already shuttered eight branches this year.

The next wave of closures will affect locations in Accrington, Halstead, Halesowen, Diss, and Newport in Wales, with additional closures planned for Haverhill, Woolwich, Stockton, Oldham, and Orpington.

Here is the full list of branches and their expected closure dates:

Customers who rely on these 10 branches have expressed disappointment and sadness upon learning their local stores will be closing for good.

Posting on Facebook about the Halesowen branch closure, one shopper said: "Halesowen is becoming a ghost town."

One customer commenting on the Diss closure said: "This is unfair for this town."

Meanwhile, a third shopper from Oldham jibed: "Couldn't make it up."