River Island has officially announced the closing dates for 27 of its stores scheduled for closure this month. The fashion retailer had previously revealed plans to shut down 33 stores following approval for a restructuring initiative by the High Court.
Among the initial list of 33 stores set for closure were branches located in Brighton, Edinburgh Princes Street, Great Yarmouth, and Stockton-on-Tees, which ceased operations in late 2025. River Island has now disclosed closure dates for an additional 27 stores, all expected 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 stores. The clothing chain, which had 223 stores in the UK and Ireland when its rescue plan was presented in court in August, is taking these steps to address financial challenges.
The company reported 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 impact of declining foot traffic and sales in a competitive retail landscape shifting towards online shopping.
River Island’s CEO, Ben Lewis, acknowledged the shift in consumer behavior from physical stores to online platforms, necessitating a realignment of the store portfolio to meet customer needs. Lewis emphasized the importance of a restructuring plan to ensure the long-term viability of the business, expressing optimism in the positive outcomes seen from recent fashion and in-store improvements.
While acknowledging the regrettable job losses resulting from store closures, River Island aims to minimize the impact on its workforce during this transition period.