River Island has officially announced the closure dates for 27 of its stores this month. The fashion retailer had previously disclosed plans to shut down 33 stores following the approval of a restructuring scheme by the High Court.
Among the initial list of 33 stores were branches in Brighton, Edinburgh Princes Street, Great Yarmouth, and Stockton-on-Tees, which closed in late 2025. River Island has now confirmed that an additional 27 stores will be closing by late January. The retailer will also be closing stores in Norwich, Norfolk, and Workington, Cumbria, although closure dates for these locations are yet to be finalized.
As part of its restructuring efforts, River Island is also reducing rents at 71 other stores. Prior to the court approval of its rescue plan in August, the clothing chain had a total of 223 stores in the UK and Ireland.
The company reported a pre-tax loss of £32.3 million last year, with a 15% decrease in turnover to £578.1 million. River Island’s legal representative, Matthew Weaver KC, attributed the financial challenges to declining foot traffic and sales, influenced by the competitive retail landscape and the shift towards online shopping.
In a statement earlier this year, Ben Lewis, the CEO of River Island, acknowledged the shift of consumers from traditional retail to online platforms, leading to an outdated store portfolio. He highlighted the rising operational costs and outlined a strategic plan to transform the business for long-term success.
Lewis expressed regret over potential job losses due to store closures and emphasized the company’s commitment to minimizing such impacts.