River Island has officially announced the specific closure dates for 27 of its stores this month. The retailer had previously revealed plans to shut down 33 stores as part of a restructuring effort approved by the High Court.
Several locations, including branches in Brighton, Edinburgh Princes Street, Great Yarmouth, and Stockton-on-Tees, were among the initial 33 stores marked for closure, shutting down in late 2025. River Island has now disclosed that an additional 27 stores will be closing later in January. The retailer is also set to close stores in Norwich, Norfolk, and Workington, Cumbria, although closure dates for these branches are yet to be confirmed.
As part of its restructuring strategy, River Island is also reducing rents at 71 other stores. The clothing chain, which had 223 stores in the UK and Ireland at the time of its court-approved rescue plan in August, is adapting to challenging market conditions.
The company faced 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, acknowledged the financial challenges, attributing them to declining foot traffic and sales amidst a competitive retail landscape shifting towards online shopping.
River Island’s CEO, Ben Lewis, emphasized the necessity of adapting to evolving consumer preferences and cost pressures. Despite the regrettable impact on jobs due to store closures, the company aims to minimize job losses while focusing on long-term sustainability through a strategic business transformation.