High street's survival under threat as lockdown hits stores

Coronavirus could lead to permanent closure of struggling town shops, say analysts

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Fears that many of Britain's high street shops will be forced to close down permanently despite the government's emergency support were fuelled yesterday after a string of retailers said the coronavirus outbreak could make their businesses unviable.

As the Restaurant Group said it would shut the majority of its Tex-Mex Chiquito restaurants for good, Swedish fashion retailer H&M threatened landlords that it would walk away from its 300-plus store leases if sales fail to match pre-coronavirus levels once the pandemic passes.