River Island and Primark have both announced store closures for January 2026. In the previous year, 54 retailers faced closure, leading to the shutdown of 3,080 stores and affecting 30,153 employees, as reported by the Centre for Retail Research. The latest retail data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) indicated a 0.1% decrease in retail sales volumes in November.
River Island is planning to shut down at least 27 stores this month as part of a significant restructuring effort that also involved the closure of 33 stores previously. Locations such as Brighton, Edinburgh Princes Street, Great Yarmouth, and Stockton-on-Tees have already ceased operations in late 2025. Other stores on the closure list, including Norwich, Norfolk, and Workington, Cumbria, have yet to confirm closing dates.
Poundland is set to close 12 stores this January as approved by the High Court. The discount retailer had already closed 57 stores by the end of September following its acquisition by investment firm Gordon Brothers for a nominal fee.
Primark recently closed its Dartford store on January 3 due to significant building repair needs. Philippa Nibbs, Primark’s director of sales for UK South and South East, explained that the decision was made considering the extensive repairs required, with the majority of affected employees being offered positions in nearby stores.
Lloyds Banking Group, including Lloyds Bank, Halifax, and Bank of Scotland, is set to close a total of 34 bank branches this month, citing the increasing trend of online banking as the reason for the closures. This includes the closure of 17 Lloyds branches, eight Halifax sites, and nine Bank of Scotland branches.
The closures reflect the ongoing challenges faced by retailers and banks in adapting to changing consumer behaviors and economic conditions.