River Island has officially announced the specific closure dates for 27 of its stores within this month. The fashion retailer, which has been facing challenges, previously stated its intention to shut down 33 stores following the approval of a significant restructuring plan by the High Court.
Among the initial list of 33 stores set for closure, branches in Brighton, Edinburgh Princes Street, Great Yarmouth, and Stockton-on-Tees ceased operations in the final months of 2025. River Island has now disclosed the closure dates for an additional 27 stores, all scheduled to shut down towards the end of January. While the retailer plans to close stores in Norwich, Norfolk, and Workington, Cumbria, the specific closure dates for these locations are yet to be confirmed.
As part of its restructuring efforts, River Island is also reducing rents at an additional 71 stores. Before the court’s approval of its rescue plan in August of this year, the clothing chain operated 223 stores across the UK and Ireland.
The company reported a pre-tax loss of £32.3 million last year, with a 15% decline in turnover to £578.1 million. River Island’s legal representative, Matthew Weaver KC, highlighted the company’s ongoing financial challenges, citing reduced foot traffic and sales due to the competitive retail landscape and the shift towards online shopping.
River Island’s CEO, Ben Lewis, acknowledged the shift in consumer behavior from physical stores to online platforms, leading to an excess of retail spaces that no longer align with customer preferences. The rising operational costs in recent years have further strained the business, prompting a strategic transformation to ensure its long-term success.
While expressing regret over potential job losses resulting from store closures, River Island aims to minimize such impacts as it moves forward with its restructuring plan to secure the company’s profitability and sustainability in the retail industry.