River Island and Primark are among the major retailers that have declared store closures for January 2026. In the previous year, 54 retailers went bankrupt, leading to the closure of 3,080 stores and the loss of 30,153 jobs, according to the Centre for Retail Research. This announcement coincides with the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reporting a 0.1% decline in retail sales volumes for November.
River Island is set to close at least 27 stores this month as part of a significant restructuring effort, having previously disclosed plans to shut down 33 stores. Several locations, including branches in Brighton, Edinburgh Princes Street, Great Yarmouth, and Stockton-on-Tees, have already closed in late 2025. Additionally, stores in Norwich, Norfolk, and Workington, Cumbria are on the closure list, with specific closing dates yet to be confirmed.
Poundland is planning to close 12 shops in January as part of a restructuring initiative that received High Court approval. The discount retailer had already closed 57 stores by the end of September, following its acquisition by investment firm Gordon Brothers for a nominal fee.
Primark recently closed its Dartford store on January 3, marking its first closure in over a decade due to the building requiring extensive repairs. Philippa Nibbs, Primark’s director of sales for UK South and South East, justified the decision based on the unfeasibility of extensive repair work in close proximity to two other Primark stores. The company aims to support departing employees while ensuring more than half will transition to roles in nearby stores.
Lloyds Bank, Halifax, and Bank of Scotland, all part of Lloyds Banking Group, are collectively closing 34 bank branches this month, including 17 Lloyds branches, eight Halifax locations, and nine Bank of Scotland branches. The closures are attributed to the increasing trend of online banking usage as stated by Lloyds.