A QUESTION mark hung over a popular West Somerset charity shop this week after its bosses announced 150 stores will be closed across the country in the next two years.

The British Heart Foundation (BHF) said the decision was taken because of an ‘exceptionally challenging trading environment’.

The charity has not yet told staff and volunteers which stores are on the closure list and said locations would be published on its website ‘once all colleagues affected have been personally notified of the proposals’.

BHF said it wanted to ensure the charity’s retail network remained commercially sustainable and continued to generate vital funds for lifesaving research.

A spokesperson said: “The decision follows a detailed review of our retail estate amid rising operating costs and changing customer habits, which means some of our shops and stores are no longer financially sustainable.

“We have proposed closing around 90 stores by the end of March 2027, and the remainder by March 2028.

“There is also a proposed reduction in the central teams and functions that support our retail operation.

“The changes are designed to ensure our retail network remains strong and sustainable, contributing vital funds to power research into cardiovascular disease, which causes around one death every three minutes in the UK.

“Our overall financial position remains healthy, with continuing strong performance across fund-raising and legacy income.”

The Minehead BHF shop, in The Parade, has traded for more than five years and is open seven days a week with its ‘unique selling point’ being its ability to have different stock in store every day.

It sells homeware, clothing for adults and children, shoes, toys, books, ornaments, accessories, greetings cards, and other items and also offers a home collection service.

BHF chief executive Dr Charmaine Griffiths said: “Our shops mean so much to our colleagues, brilliant volunteers, and communities across the UK.

“They are places where people come together to donate, shop, and volunteer, helping to make a real difference to lives affected by cardiovascular disease.

“We know this will be a difficult time for our dedicated colleagues and volunteers in affected stores and emphasise our deep appreciation and gratitude for all they have done for BHF and the communities they serve.

“Like most retailers, we are facing an exceptionally challenging trading environment.

“Cardiovascular disease remains one of the UK’s biggest killers and our priority is funding research to save lives.

“We must take the difficult step to close some of our shops to sustain retail’s important contribution to funding BHF’s groundbreaking research.”

Chief commercial officer Allison Swaine-Hughes said: “Change is essential so we can continue to serve communities across the UK and raise the funds that power our lifesaving research.

“This is about protecting our mission for the long term, even when the decisions in the shorter term are hard.”

The Free Press has asked the charity if the Minehead shop is to be closed or will stay open.