High street fashion retailer River Island has confirmed it will shut down 33 of its stores across the United Kingdom before the end of January 2026. The move forms a central part of a major restructuring plan that was approved by the High Court earlier this year.
The Strategy Behind the Closures
In a statement issued earlier in 2025, River Island's chief executive, Ben Lewis, explained the difficult decision. He described River Island as a "much-loved retailer with a decades-long history on the British high street." However, he cited the profound shift in consumer behaviour as a key driver for the restructuring.
"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," Mr Lewis stated. He further highlighted that the sharp rise in the cost of doing business in recent years had intensified the financial pressures on the company's physical estate.
The CEO emphasised that the restructuring is essential to secure the brand's future, despite recent positive improvements in its fashion offerings and in-store experience. "It is only with a restructuring plan that we will be able to see this strategy through and secure River Island’s future as a profitable retail business," he added.
Impact on Stores and Staff
The closures will significantly reduce River Island's physical footprint. The chain currently operates more than 220 stores across the UK and Ireland and employs approximately 5,500 people. The company has expressed regret over the inevitable job losses resulting from the store closures and stated it will aim to keep redundancies to a minimum.
The full list of 33 locations scheduled for closure in January 2026 includes stores across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
Full List of River Island Stores Closing in January 2026
- Beckton
- Bangor Bloomfield
- Wrexham
- Edinburgh Princes Street
- Hereford
- Surrey Quays
- Didcot
- Sutton Coldfield
- Aylesbury
- Burton-Upon-Trent
- Northwich
- Taunton
- Workington
- Falkirk
- Cumbernauld
- Kirkcaldy
- Gloucester
- Hartlepool
- Brighton
- Lisburn
- Norwich
- Oxford
- Poole
- Kilmarnock
- Hanley
- Barnstaple
- Grimsby
- Leeds Birstall Park
- Rochdale
- Great Yarmouth
- St Helens
- Stockton On Tees
- Perth
The planned closures underscore the ongoing challenges facing traditional brick-and-mortar retailers as they adapt to an increasingly digital marketplace and rising operational costs.
