River Island has officially announced the scheduled closure dates for 27 of its stores this month. The fashion retailer, facing financial challenges, had previously disclosed plans to shut down 33 stores following High Court approval for a major restructure.
Among the initial list of 33 stores, branches in Brighton, Edinburgh Princes Street, Great Yarmouth, and Stockton-on-Tees ceased operations in late 2025. River Island has now released closure dates for an additional 27 stores, all set to close by the end of January. The retailer will also be closing stores in Norwich, Norfolk, and Workington, Cumbria, although closure dates for these locations are yet to be confirmed.
As part of its restructuring efforts, River Island is also reducing rents at 71 other shops. During the court hearing in August, the clothing chain, which had 223 stores in the UK and Ireland, faced a pre-tax loss of £32.3 million last year, with a 15% drop in turnover to £578.1 million. Matthew Weaver KC, representing River Island, highlighted the company’s ongoing financial challenges, attributing them to declining footfall and sales amidst a fiercely competitive retail landscape and the growing shift towards online shopping.
Ben Lewis, River Island’s chief executive, emphasized the necessity of adapting to evolving consumer preferences and the increasing costs of operating traditional stores. He outlined the company’s strategy to revamp its business model for sustainable growth, emphasizing recent positive outcomes from improved fashion offerings and in-store experiences. Lewis expressed regret over potential job losses due to store closures, pledging to minimize the impact on employees.
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