River Island has officially announced the closure dates for 27 of its stores in the current month. This decision follows the retailer’s plan to close a total of 33 stores as part of a restructuring effort approved by the High Court.
Among the initial list of 33 stores marked for closure were branches in Brighton, Edinburgh Princes Street, Great Yarmouth, and Stockton-on-Tees, which shut down towards the end of 2025. River Island has now disclosed the closure dates for the remaining 27 stores, all set to cease operations in late January. While stores in Norwich, Norfolk, and Workington, Cumbria, are also on the closure list, specific dates for these locations are yet to be confirmed.
As part of its restructuring strategy, River Island is also reducing rents at an additional 71 shops. Prior to this move, the clothing chain operated 223 stores across the UK and Ireland at the time of its rescue plan being discussed in court in August.
The company reported a pre-tax loss of £32.3 million last year, with a 15% decrease in turnover to £578.1 million. River Island’s legal representative, Matthew Weaver KC, highlighted the challenges faced by the company, citing a decline in foot traffic and sales due to the competitive retail landscape and the shift towards online shopping.
In a statement earlier this year, Ben Lewis, the chief executive of River Island, acknowledged the shift in consumer behavior from physical stores to online platforms. He emphasized the need for a restructuring plan to align the business with evolving customer preferences and ensure its long-term success.
Lewis expressed regret over potential job losses resulting from the store closures and pledged to minimize the impact on employees.