Footwear retailer Russell and Bromley has shut 33 shops, the company confirmed in a statement today. Administrators revealed that the planned closure of the 33 stores and nine concessions not purchased by Next has now been completed. The final Russell and Bromley store closure occurred on 23 April, following the announcement of the initial 10 closures on 21 April, reports the Mirror.
The shoe retailer employed 320 staff before the closures, with administrators confirming redundancies. Interpath administrators have yet to disclose how many employees departed before being made redundant.
"All stores that did not transfer to Next as part of that transaction closed on or before 23 April 2026," the joint administrators informed Drapers. "Regrettably, these closures mean that the majority of employees working in the non-transferring stores have been made redundant."
"The administrators and their teams are engaging closely with all affected staff and will be providing support throughout the process, including assisting individuals in submitting claims to the redundancy payments service. The administrators continue to oversee the wind-down of the remaining parts of the business and will provide further updates as appropriate."
On 21 January, it was announced that Next had purchased Russell and Bromley through a £2.5 million pre-pack administration cash deal. The acquisition saw Next secure the Russell and Bromley brand, additional intellectual property and three of its stores. Three outlets in Chelsea and Mayfair, London, and Bluewater shopping centre, Kent were part of the acquisition.
Suppliers have reportedly stated that they received no correspondence from Russell and Bromley following the announcement of the Next takeover.
Russell and Bromley was established in 1880 by George Bromley and Elizabeth Russell in Eastbourne. The company employed over 450 staff and was managed by Andrew Bromley prior to entering administration.
In a statement released after confirming the deal in January, Next said: "This acquisition secures the future of a much-loved British footwear brand."
Next intends to build on this legacy and provide the operational stability and expertise to support Russell and Bromley's next chapter, allowing it to return to its core mission: the design and curation of world-class, premium footwear and accessories for many years to come.
Announcing the sale, Andrew Bromley, chief executive of Russell and Bromley, said: "Following a strategic review with external advisers, we have taken the difficult decision to sell the Russell and Bromley brand. This is the best route to secure the future for the brand, and we would like to thank our staff, suppliers, partners and customers for their support throughout our history."
