For over a decade, Geek Retreat has been the ‘home away from home’ for the UK’s neurodivergent and gaming communities. Since opening its doors on Glasgow’s Union Street in 2013, it promised a safe haven where you could roll dice, trade cards, and grab a milkshake without judgement. However, the landscape in late 2025 looks very different.
With the shock closure of the Glasgow flagship in September and the long-standing Newcastle hub following suit in November, many fans are asking: Is Geek Retreat going bust, or just evolving? While the national headline is one of ‘streamlining’ and store closures, several independently-run franchises are still thriving from Aberdeen to Truro.
Whether you’re looking to find out if your local shop survived the 2025 cull or you’re searching for the new independent ‘Guilds’ rising from the ashes, here is the definitive, up-to-the-minute list of every Geek Retreat store currently open and closed across the UK.”
Active Geek Retreat Stores (December 2025)
Despite the corporate restructuring, approximately 18-20 franchised stores remain active across the UK. These stores are independently operated and continue to be hubs for Pokémon, MTG, and Yu-Gi-Oh! communities.
| Region | Active Store Locations |
| North England | Blackburn, Bury, Harrogate, Hartlepool, Sunderland, Warrington |
| Midlands | Burton upon Trent, Dudley, Kettering, Kidderminster |
| South England | Chelmsford, Harlow, Ipswich, Stevenage, Truro |
| Wales & NI | Cardiff |
The Hall of Heroes: Closed Geek Retreat Locations
The last 24 months have seen a significant “streamlining” of the franchise. Most notably, the original Glasgow and Newcastle sites—the bedrock of the brand—closed their doors in late 2025.
Major Recent Closures (2024–2025)
- Glasgow (Union Street): The original 2013 flagship closed in September 2025.2
- Aberdeen : Closing January 2026, last scottish geek retreat
- Newcastle (Grainger Street): Closed November 2025 after 11 years.3
- Bedford: Closed September 2025 (merged/relocated to Northampton).4
- Liverpool (Church Street): Closed July 2024.5
- Coventry: Closed February 2025.6
- Leeds: Closed June 2024.7
- Motherwell: Closed June 2024.8
- Wakefield: Closed June 2024.
Other Historical Closures
Addlestone, Bangor, Barnsley, Bournemouth, Bradford, Bridgend, Bristol, Chester, Cwmbran, Daventry, Dumfries, Edinburgh, Exeter, Galashiels, Greenock, Halifax, Hereford, Lancaster, Leicester, Lincoln, Lisburn, Llandudno, London (Holloway, Sutton, Camberwell), Loughborough, Middlesbrough, Milton Keynes, Northwich, Nottingham, Oxford, Portsmouth, Reigate, Rotherham, Southampton, Stafford, Stoke-on-Trent, Torquay, Wirral, York.
Why the Closures? (The 2025 Context)
In late 2025, the franchise is shifting away from “Head Office” owned stores to focus entirely on local franchisees. High business rates, the energy crisis, and the rise of independent competitors (like The Merchant’s Guild in Glasgow, founded by ex-Geek Retreat staff) have made the massive high-street model difficult to sustain.
The Multi-Game Table: 👉 [Folding Gaming Table for TCG & Board Games]
The Professional Binder: 👉 [Vault X Premium Exo-Tec Binder]
The Local Hero Starter: 👉 [Magic: The Gathering Foundations Beginner Box]
- Why: With many physical venues closing, more UK players are building “home leagues” in late 2025.