A planning application has revealed that WH Smith on Stone High Street could soon be rebranded as TG Jones, marking the end of an era for one of the town’s longest-standing High Street names.
National sale sparks local change
The proposed signage change comes after the sale of WH Smith’s entire High Street business to retail investment group Modella, in a deal worth £76 million. The acquisition, reported in March 2025, included all 200+ UK High Street branches – but not WH Smith’s airport, railway, or hospital outlets, which will continue to trade under the WH Smith name.
The buyer, Modella, is behind the launch of TG Jones, a new brand which will take over all the former WH Smith High Street stores. Modella revealed that the name was chosen to feel “modern but rooted in tradition”, with an eye to creating a more flexible and contemporary retail identity that still sells familiar products – books, magazines, stationery, snacks and gifts.
Stone’s store now appears to be next in line for the transformation.
Application reveals proposed signage
Submitted in July, the planning application for the High Street store proposes a full replacement of all WH Smith signage:
- A new fascia sign in blue with TG Jones white lettering
- A TG Jones branded hanging sign projecting from the shopfront
- A matching rear goods entrance sign
The design sticks closely to the existing layout and colour scheme. No changes are planned to illumination or placement. The switch is described in the application documents as a like-for-like replacement, preserving the building’s appearance while introducing the new brand. Visuals submitted with the application show a mock-up of the proposed new look for the store.
Stone Town Council raises no objection
Stone Town Council considered the application at a recent meeting and recorded no objections to the proposal.
A heritage statement submitted alongside the application confirms that the building sits within Stone’s town centre conservation area, and outlines efforts to minimise any impact.
If approved, the new signage would be installed overnight to avoid disruption to customers, with all works completed before opening time the following morning.
