High street fashion retailer River Island has confirmed it will close 33 of its stores across the UK and Ireland as part of a significant restructuring plan aimed at stabilising the business amid ongoing financial pressures.
The company, which currently operates around 230 stores, made the announcement with the fate of a further 70 stores hanging in the balance, with their survival dependent on securing reduced rents through negotiations with landlords.
The closures are part of a formal restructuring process being developed with PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). This court-supervised process allows businesses facing financial challenges to reach agreements with creditors, including landlords, to avoid insolvency.
Founded in 1948 by Bernard Lewis, River Island has long been a familiar name on British high streets. However, like many retailers, the company has faced mounting difficulties due to shifting consumer habits, rising operational costs, and the sustained growth of online shopping.
The news comes as another blow to the UK’s already decimated high streets, which have seen a wave of closures in recent years. Traditional shopping areas, particularly in smaller towns and cities, have struggled to recover from the effects of the pandemic, the cost-of-living crisis, and changing retail trends. The loss of another major retailer like River Island will likely leave further gaps on high streets already dotted with empty units.
It is not yet known how many jobs will be affected, but River Island has acknowledged the potential for redundancies, despite efforts to minimise them. The retailer currently employs around 5,500 people across its operations.
“We regret any job losses as a result of store closures, and we will try to keep these to a minimum,” the company said in a statement.
The following River Island stores are scheduled to close in January 2026:
- Beckton
- Bangor Bloomfield
- Wrexham
- Edinburgh Princes Street
- Hereford
- Surrey Quays
- Didcot
- Sutton Coldfield
- Aylesbury
- Burton-Upon-Trent
- Northwich
- Taunton
- Workington
- Falkirk
- Cumbernauld
- Kirkcaldy
- Gloucester
- Hartlepool
- Brighton
- Lisburn
- Norwich
- Oxford
- Poole
- Kilmarnock
- Hanley
- Barnstaple
- Grimsby
- Leeds Birstall Park
- Rochdale
- Great Yarmouth
- St Helens
- Stockton On Tees
- Perth
The formal restructuring proposal will be presented to creditors in August.
River Island’s decision adds to the growing list of high street casualties, as well-known names continue to retreat from physical retail spaces. The closures will likely deepen concerns about the long-term future of town centres, many of which are already struggling with falling footfall and an increasing number of vacant shops.
Further updates regarding the negotiations with landlords and the potential impact on staff are expected in the coming months.
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