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, initially disclosed plans to close 33 stores following the approval of a significant restructuring initiative by the High Court.
Among the original list of 33 stores, locations including Brighton, Edinburgh Princes Street, Great Yarmouth, and Stockton-on-Tees ceased operations in the latter part of 2025. River Island has now revealed that an additional 27 stores will be closing by the end of January. While closure dates for stores in Norwich, Norfolk, and Workington, Cumbria are pending confirmation.
As part of its restructuring efforts, River Island is also reducing rents at 71 other stores. During the court hearing in August of this year, the clothing chain had 223 stores in the UK and Ireland when its rescue plan was discussed.
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 ongoing financial challenges faced by the company, attributing them to reduced footfall and sales amidst a competitive retail landscape shifting towards online shopping.
CEO Ben Lewis acknowledged the shift in consumer behavior towards online shopping and the high operational costs affecting the business. He emphasized the need for a strategic transformation to align with customer preferences and ensure long-term sustainability. Despite the regrettable impact on jobs due to store closures, River Island aims to minimize job losses while securing its future as a profitable retail entity.