High street fashion retailer River Island has confirmed it will permanently close at least 27 of its stores across the United Kingdom this month, marking a significant shift for the well-known brand.
Major Restructuring Plan Approved
The closures are part of a major restructuring strategy that was recently approved by the High Court. This plan will see the retailer's estate dramatically reduced from 250 shops to just 122. The company has been in negotiations with landlords to secure rent reductions in a bid to save more than 140 other branches and protect thousands of jobs.
Ben Lewis, chief executive of River Island, stated earlier this year that the move was essential for the business's long-term viability. "The well-documented migration of shoppers from the high street to online has left the business with a large portfolio of stores that is no longer aligned to our customers’ needs," he explained. He also cited the sharp rise in the cost of doing business as a contributing factor.
First Wave of Closures and Full List
The Sutton Coldfield branch in the West Midlands will be among the first to shut its doors permanently. This follows several closures that took place towards the end of 2025 in locations including Brighton, Edinburgh Princes Street, Stockton-on-Tees, and Great Yarmouth.
The full list of River Island stores scheduled for closure this January includes:
- Altrincham, Manchester – Jan 26
- Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire – Jan 18
- Bangor Bloomfield, Northern Ireland – Jan 24
- Barnstaple, Devon – Jan 31
- Beckton, Greater London – Jan 31
- Brighton, East Sussex – Jan 18
- Burton-Upon-Trent, Derbyshire – Jan 18
- Cumbernauld, Scotland – Jan 24
- Didcot, Oxfordshire – Jan 31
- Falkirk, Scotland – Jan 31
- Grimsby, Lincolnshire – Jan 31
- Hanley, Staffordshire – Jan 24
- Hartlepool, County Durham – Jan 24
- Hereford, Herefordshire – Jan 31
- Kilmarnock, Scotland – Jan 24
- Kirkcaldy, Scotland – Jan 31
- Leeds Birstall Park, West Yorkshire – Jan 18
- Lisburn, Northern Ireland – Jan 18
- Northwich, Cheshire – Jan 24
- Oxford, Oxfordshire – Jan 31
- Perth, Scotland – Jan 18
- Poole, Dorset – Jan 31
- Rochdale, Greater Manchester – Jan 31
- St Helens, Merseyside – Jan 24
- Surrey Quays, Greater London – Jan 18
- Sutton Coldfield, Warwickshire – Jan 18
- Taunton, Somerset – Jan 18
- Wrexham, Wales – Jan 18
Closures in Norwich, Norfolk and Workington, Cumbria are also confirmed but with dates still to be confirmed (TBC).
Future Strategy and Job Losses
Despite the widespread closures, River Island's leadership insists the restructuring is a proactive strategy for future success. Lewis pointed to recent improvements in the brand's fashion offering and in-store experience, which he says are showing positive results.
The company has expressed regret over the inevitable job losses resulting from the store closures. "We regret any job losses as a result of store closures, and we will try to keep these to a minimum," Lewis assured. The primary goal of the Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA) is to safeguard the majority of the workforce and ensure River Island remains a profitable presence on the British high street for decades to come.
