Littlewoods, pictured here beside Freeman Hardy Willis in June 1970, was founded in Liverpool in 1923. It began life as a football pools company, before expanding into mail-order retail and later making its way onto the high street, with its first store opening in Blackpool in 1937. At its peak it employed around 25,000 people and was reportedly the largest private company in Europe, but its fortunes rapidly declined from the 80s onwards and the original company was wound up in 2005, though you can still buy online from the Littlewoods website.placeholder image
Littlewoods, pictured here beside Freeman Hardy Willis in June 1970, was founded in Liverpool in 1923. It began life as a football pools company, before expanding into mail-order retail and later making its way onto the high street, with its first store opening in Blackpool in 1937. At its peak it employed around 25,000 people and was reportedly the largest private company in Europe, but its fortunes rapidly declined from the 80s onwards and the original company was wound up in 2005, though you can still buy online from the Littlewoods website. | Getty Images

19 of the most popular high street shops of the 60s and 70s we have lost - how many do you remember?

Robert Cumber
By Robert Cumber

Property and retro writer

Published 26th Jul 2025, 11:30 BST

From fashion to food, they were among the biggest high street chains of the 60s and 70s.

Between them, they had many thousands of shops up and down the country at their peak.

But their fortunes declined and they have disappeared from the nation’s high streets, though several are still trading online.

Some of these shops have not been around for years, while others have closed only recently.

How many of these retail giants of the 60s and 70s do you remember shopping at, and is your old favourite among them? Let us know in the comments section.

The electronics firm Rumbelows was founded in 1949 and at its peak had around 350 shops across the UK. It was sold in 1989 to Radio Rentals and in 1995 the remaining shops closed.

9. Rumbelows

The electronics firm Rumbelows was founded in 1949 and at its peak had around 350 shops across the UK. It was sold in 1989 to Radio Rentals and in 1995 the remaining shops closed. | Getty Images Photo: £vening Standard/Hulton Archive

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The department store chain British Home Stores (BHS) was a fixture on the nation's high streets for many years. Its first shop opened in Brixton, south London, in 1928, and by 1970 it had 94 sites around the country, employing some 12,000 people. The company was bought in 2000 by Philip Green for £200 million and sold 15 years later for just £1, with the final stores closing in 2016. BHS still exists online, selling lighting, bedding and textiles.

10. BHS

The department store chain British Home Stores (BHS) was a fixture on the nation's high streets for many years. Its first shop opened in Brixton, south London, in 1928, and by 1970 it had 94 sites around the country, employing some 12,000 people. The company was bought in 2000 by Philip Green for £200 million and sold 15 years later for just £1, with the final stores closing in 2016. BHS still exists online, selling lighting, bedding and textiles. | Getty Images Photo: Evening Standard/Hulton Archive

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Marshall & Snelgrove was a high-end department store chain with its flagship site on Oxford Street in London dating back to 1837. The luxury retailer expanded, opening shops around the country, including in Harrogate, Birmingha, Leeds, Manchester and Sheffield. The company later became part of the Debenhams group, and by the end of the 70s all branches had either been rebranded as Debenhams or closed.

11. Marshall & Snelgrove

Marshall & Snelgrove was a high-end department store chain with its flagship site on Oxford Street in London dating back to 1837. The luxury retailer expanded, opening shops around the country, including in Harrogate, Birmingha, Leeds, Manchester and Sheffield. The company later became part of the Debenhams group, and by the end of the 70s all branches had either been rebranded as Debenhams or closed. | Getty Images Photo: Evening Standard/Hulton Archive

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The men's fashion retailer was founded in Leeds in 1907 and initially traded as Fifty Shilling Tailors, before changing its name to John Collier after being bought in 1953 by United Drapery Stores (UDS). At its peak had around 400 shops across the country. In 1985, the company was sold to the Burton Group and the brand was discontinued.

12. John Collier

The men's fashion retailer was founded in Leeds in 1907 and initially traded as Fifty Shilling Tailors, before changing its name to John Collier after being bought in 1953 by United Drapery Stores (UDS). At its peak had around 400 shops across the country. In 1985, the company was sold to the Burton Group and the brand was discontinued. | Getty Images Photo: Evening Standard/Hulton Archive

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