River Island has officially announced the closure dates for 27 of its stores scheduled to shut down this month. The fashion retailer, facing financial challenges, had previously declared the closure of 33 stores following approval of its restructuring plans by the High Court.
Among the initial list of 33 stores earmarked for closure were branches in Brighton, Edinburgh Princes Street, Great Yarmouth, and Stockton-on-Tees, which ceased operations in late 2025. River Island has now disclosed the closing dates for an additional 27 stores, all set to shut down in late January. However, closure dates for stores in Norwich, Norfolk, and Workington, Cumbria, are yet to be confirmed.
As part of its restructuring efforts, River Island is also reducing rents at 71 other shops. Prior to the court’s consideration of its rescue plan in August this year, the clothing chain operated 223 stores across the UK and Ireland.
The company reported a pre-tax loss of £32.3 million last year, with a 15% decline in turnover to £578.1 million. River Island’s legal representative, Matthew Weaver KC, highlighted the company’s ongoing financial challenges, attributing them to reduced footfall and sales pressure from a competitive retail landscape shifting towards online shopping.
River Island’s CEO, Ben Lewis, acknowledged the shift of consumers from traditional retail to online platforms as a significant factor impacting the business. Lewis emphasized the necessity of transforming the company’s operational strategy to align with changing customer preferences and ensure long-term profitability. Despite the regrettable job losses resulting from store closures, River Island aims to minimize the impact while implementing its restructuring plan for a sustainable future.