Big Issue North to close after 30 years

Publisher says reduced town centre footfall and higher costs mean regional edition is no longer viable

The Big Issue is shutting down its northern England edition next month, blaming reduced town centre footfall since the pandemic.

Increased print, energy and paper costs have also contributed to making Big Issue North “no longer financially viable”, its publishers said. A souvenir final edition will go on sale on 8 May, 30 years after the title first hit the streets.