River Island has officially announced the specific closure dates for 27 of its stores scheduled to shut down this month.
The fashion retailer, facing financial challenges, had previously declared its intention to close 33 stores following the approval of a significant restructuring plan by the High Court.
Among the initial list of 33 stores, River Island has already closed branches in Brighton, Edinburgh Princes Street, Great Yarmouth, and Stockton-on-Tees in late 2025.
Now, River Island has disclosed that 27 additional stores will be closing by the end of January. The retailer will also be shutting down stores in Norwich, Norfolk, and Workington, Cumbria, but the closure dates for these locations are yet to be confirmed.
As part of its restructuring efforts, River Island is also reducing rents at 71 other shops. Before the court approved its rescue plan in August, the clothing chain had a total of 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, stated in court that the company has struggled to reverse its financial downturn due to declining footfall and sales in a highly competitive retail landscape shifting towards online shopping.
River Island’s CEO, Ben Lewis, acknowledged the challenges faced by the company, attributing them to the shift in consumer behavior towards online shopping. He emphasized the need for a strategic transformation to align the business with evolving customer preferences and ensure long-term profitability.
Lewis expressed regret over potential job losses resulting from store closures but affirmed the company’s commitment to minimizing them as much as possible.