River Island confirms 33 stores closing amid restructuring

River Island has confirmed the locations of 33 UK stores set to close by January 2026, as the high street fashion retailer pushes ahead with a major restructuring plan to patch heavy losses.

The closures come as part of a proposed deal that will go to a creditor vote in August. If approved, the plan could help the business secure fresh funding and renegotiate rental agreements for a further 70 stores that are currently under review.

The family-owned company said it had been forced to act due to the ongoing shift from in-store shopping to online and the sharply rising cost of operating physical retail. River Island, which trades from around 230 UK stores and employs 5,500 people, has hired PwC to oversee the restructuring process.

Ben Lewis, Chief Executive of River Island, said: "We regret any job losses as a result of store closures, and we will try to keep these to a minimum."

The full list of River Island stores closing by 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

Lewis said the closures are essential to secure the long-term future of the business. "We have a clear strategy to transform the business... but it is only with a restructuring plan that we will be able to see this strategy through and secure River Island’s future as a profitable retail business," he said.

The retailer is among high street fashion chains to have been impacted by weaker consumer spending and competition from cheaper online rivals, such as Shein.

River Island fell to a £33.2 million loss in 2023 after sales slid by 19%, according to its most recent set of accounts.