River Island has officially announced the closure dates for 27 of its stores scheduled to shut down later this month. The fashion retailer, which had previously disclosed plans to close 33 stores following a restructuring approval by the High Court, has already closed several locations, including branches in Brighton, Edinburgh Princes Street, Great Yarmouth, and Stockton-on-Tees, in late 2025.
In addition to the initial closures, River Island has now revealed that 27 more stores will be shutting down towards the end of January. Among the upcoming closures are stores in Norwich, Norfolk, and Workington, Cumbria, although specific dates for these branches are yet to be confirmed.
As part of its restructuring efforts, River Island is also reducing rents at an additional 71 shops. Prior to the court approval in August of this year, the clothing chain operated 223 stores across the UK and Ireland.
The company faced financial challenges, reporting 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 ongoing financial struggles, attributing them to declining foot traffic and sales amid intense competition and the shift towards online shopping.
River Island’s CEO, Ben Lewis, acknowledged the shift in consumer behavior towards online shopping, leading to an outdated store portfolio that no longer aligns with customer preferences. Lewis emphasized the importance of restructuring to secure the company’s long-term viability, noting positive results from recent fashion and in-store experience enhancements.
Expressing regret over potential job losses due to store closures, River Island aims to minimize the impact on its workforce during the restructuring process.