Store closures alert: River Island to shut down 33 shops by January 2026

The fashion retailer, which currently operates more than 200 locations across the country, will undergo a substantial overhaul as part of efforts to safeguard the brand’s future.

Beyond the closures, the court-sanctioned plan includes negotiated rent reductions across 71 stores and the elimination of a substantial portion of the company’s debt.

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Following the restructuring, 122 River Island shops will continue trading without any changes to their operations. Ben Lewis, the company’s chief executive, framed the decision as a crucial step in securing River Island’s future.

“We have a clear transformation strategy to ensure the long-term viability of the business, and this decision gives us a strong platform to deliver this,” Mr Lewis explained.

The CEO pointed to positive momentum already emerging from the company’s efforts to refresh its product range and enhance the customer experience going forward.

“Recent improvements in our fashion offer and shopping experience are starting to show results, and the restructuring plan will enable us to align our store estate to our customers’ needs,” he added.

Mr Lewis expressed appreciation to the retailer’s suppliers, landlords and other stakeholders for their “constructive engagement and shared confidence in River Island’s future”.

This latest restructuring comes as River Island has faced mounting pressure from the rise of ultra-cheap fast fashion competitors and weakening consumer spending.

The high street chain, known for its clothing and fashion accessories, has previously acknowledged these challenges as significant factors affecting its business performance.

Despite the substantial changes to its store portfolio, the retailer maintains a considerable presence on British high streets, with 122 locations set to continue operating unaffected by the restructuring measures.

River Island’s restructuring forms part of a broader wave of closures sweeping British retail, with the Centre of Retail Research forecasting up to 17,000 shop shutdowns throughout 2025.

The sector faces a combination of pressures creating what has been described as one of the most difficult trading environments in recent memory, with Chancellor Rachel Reeves’s changes to National Insurance being cited as being partially responsible.

Consumer experts from Amazon accountants Archimedia Accounts previously shared: “It is important to recognise that despite the many store closures in recent times, retail is not dying, but evolving. Therefore, it is essential that businesses constantly adapt and react to the market.

“Store closures themselves don’t always need to signal a ‘downfall’ or an ‘end’, sometimes they can signify a key step toward financial recovery and a shift in focus on areas such as e-commerce.”