River Island has officially announced the scheduled closure dates for 27 of its stores later this month. The fashion retailer, which has been facing challenges, had previously declared plans to close 33 stores following approval of its restructuring strategy by the High Court.
Included in the initial list of 33 stores were branches in Brighton, Edinburgh Princes Street, Great Yarmouth, and Stockton-on-Tees, all of which ceased operations in late 2025. River Island has now disclosed that an additional 27 stores will be closing by the end of January. While closures in Norwich, Norfolk, and Workington, Cumbria are also planned, specific dates for these locations are yet to be finalized.
As part of its restructuring efforts, River Island is also reducing rents at 71 other establishments. Before the court approved its rescue plan in August, the clothing chain operated 223 stores in the UK and Ireland.
The company reported a pre-tax loss of £32.3 million last year, with turnover declining by 15% to £578.1 million. River Island’s representative, Matthew Weaver KC, highlighted the ongoing financial challenges faced by the company, attributing them to reduced 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 in consumer behavior towards online shopping and the necessity to align the store portfolio with customer needs. He emphasized the importance of restructuring to ensure the long-term success of the business, expressing regret over potential job losses due to store closures while aiming to minimize these impacts.