Lancaster University Students’ Union Shop to close in July 2025

Following the recent bar closures, another key student location on the Lancaster University campus is also shutting for 2025/26.

LUSU Shop, located outside of Pendle on the South Spine, will be closing on 31st July and the university is working to find another operator to take over the shop in time for the start of the next academic year.

The Students’ Union released a statement on the evening of Tuesday 27th May that the shop would be closing in just two months’ time as it has “struggled to turn a profit” since reopening after lockdown.

The statement goes on to say that they “kept the shop running to ensure a vital service to students remained”, despite the fact that it had not been making money for some time.

The shop opening hours will also be reduced from Monday 16th June to 8:30am-5:00pm Monday to Friday. It currently operates from 8:30am-11:30pm Monday to Friday, 10am-11:30pm on Saturdays, and 11am-11:30pm on Sundays.

The closure of the shop comes as another blow to students, many of whom were also impacted when Lonsdale and Bowland bars were shut with immediate effect at the end of January.

A student who was employed by LUSU Shop received an email informing the staff that “the shop is forecast to make a loss of between £30,000 to £40,000 in the current financial year and has made losses of circa £200,000 over the last five years”.

A duck at the entrance to LUSU Shop

In its full statement posted on Instagram, LUSU said: “Our time at LUSU Shop is coming to an end.

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“After years of dedicated service to our campus community, LUSU Shop prepares for a new future away from the management of the Students’ Union.

“For many years, LUSU Shop has provided students with accessible and affordable food options on campus – from meal deals to fruit and veg. Despite a significant amount of hard work from our staff, marketing campaigns, product diversification, and student-led initiatives, LUSU Shop has struggled to turn a profit since we re-opened after lockdown.

“Although it wasn’t making money, we kept the shop running to ensure a vital service to students remained; that you had affordable and nutritious options on campus. [It is] With a heavy heart that we are currency in discussions with the university regarding the transfer of the shop to another operator.

“If these discussions are successful, this will mean that a shop will continue to trade from the same outlet in the next academic year.

“This is ours and the university’s preferred option as it retains this important service for students.

“LUSU Shop is an employer of many student staff, and the Union will endeavour to provide the impact students with alternative employment opportunities. 

“We would like to thank you for your continued custom and support of LUSU Shop.

For more updates, visit the LUSU Website at lancastersu.co.uk, or via the LUSU Instagram @lancastersu.”

LUSU declined to give further comment.