High street fashion chain River Island is set to permanently close 33 of its stores across the United Kingdom within weeks, marking a significant step in its ongoing restructuring efforts.
Court-Approved Restructuring Plan
The planned closures, which include a branch in Birmingham, were formally approved by the High Court in August 2025. The fashion retailer first announced its proposals for a Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA) in June of that year.
Matthew Weaver KC, representing River Island, told the court that the business had been unable to reverse a sustained trend of financial difficulty. He cited the intense pressure from a competitive and evolving retail landscape, coupled with the ongoing consumer shift from physical stores to online shopping, as primary reasons for the drop in footfall and sales.
CEO Cites Changing Consumer Habits
Ben Lewis, Chief Executive Officer of River Island, acknowledged the brand's long history on the British high street but stated the current store portfolio no longer aligns with customer behaviour. "The well-documented migration of shoppers from the high street to online has left the business with a large portfolio of stores that is no longer aligned to our customers’ needs," he said.
Lewis also pointed to the sharp increase in operational costs in recent years as adding to the financial burden. While expressing regret over any potential job losses, he emphasised that the restructuring plan, which also includes rent reductions and debt write-offs for 71 other stores, is essential for securing the company's future as a profitable entity.
Full List of January Closures
The January shutdowns follow several earlier closures, including stores in Brighton and Great Yarmouth. The full list of River Island locations scheduled to close this month is:
- 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 company maintains that its strategy to transform the business, including improvements to its fashion ranges and in-store experience, is showing positive results, but can only be fully realised with this restructuring.
