River Island and Primark are among the major retailers that have revealed plans for store closures in January 2026. The Centre for Retail Research reported that 54 retailers went bankrupt last year, leading to the closure of 3,080 stores and affecting 30,153 employees. Retail sales volumes in November saw a slight decline of 0.1%, according to data from the Office for National Statistics.
River Island is set to shut down at least 27 stores this month as part of a restructuring effort that includes the closure of 33 stores. Some locations, such as those in Brighton, Edinburgh Princes Street, Great Yarmouth, and Stockton-on-Tees, have already been closed in late 2025. Meanwhile, the closure dates for stores in Norwich, Norfolk, and Workington, Cumbria, are yet to be confirmed.
Poundland is also planning to close 12 shops in January following a High Court approval for a restructuring plan. The discount retailer had already closed 57 stores by the end of September after being acquired for £1 by investment firm Gordon Brothers.
Primark closed its Dartford store on January 3 due to significant building repair needs. This closure, believed to be the first in over a decade, was explained by Philippa Nibbs, Primark’s director of sales for UK South and South East, as a necessary decision based on the building’s condition and proximity to other Primark stores.
In addition, Lloyds Banking Group, comprising Lloyds Bank, Halifax, and Bank of Scotland, will be closing a total of 34 bank branches this month. This includes 17 Lloyds branches, eight Halifax sites, and nine Bank of Scotland locations, citing increased online banking usage as the reason for the closures.