River Island has officially announced the upcoming closure dates for 27 of its stores in the current month. The popular fashion retailer had previously disclosed plans to shut down a total of 33 stores following the approval of a significant reorganization by the High Court.
Included in the initial list of 33 stores were branches in Brighton, Edinburgh Princes Street, Great Yarmouth, and Stockton-on-Tees, all of which ceased operations in late 2025. River Island has now revealed that an additional 27 stores will be closing later in January, with closures planned for Norwich, Norfolk, and Workington, Cumbria, but specific dates for these locations are yet to be finalized.
As part of its restructuring efforts, River Island is also reducing rents at another 71 stores. Prior to the court’s approval of its rescue plan in August of this year, the clothing chain operated 223 stores across the UK and Ireland.
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, cited ongoing financial challenges, attributing them to a decline in foot traffic and sales caused by intense competition and the shift towards online shopping.
River Island’s CEO, Ben Lewis, emphasized the brand’s longstanding presence on the British high street but acknowledged the necessity to adapt to changing consumer behaviors. Lewis highlighted the escalating costs of operating physical stores and outlined the company’s strategy to ensure long-term profitability through business transformation.
Despite the regrettable impact on jobs due to store closures, River Island aims to minimize such losses as it navigates through its restructuring plan.