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River Island Sets January Closure Dates for 27 Stores Under Restructuring

The court‑approved overhaul seeks cost savings to realign the store estate after falling sales, higher expenses, plus a shift to online shopping.

Overview

  • Closures are scheduled in three waves on January 18, January 24 and January 31, with Norwich and Workington still awaiting dates.
  • The programme forms part of a plan to close 33 locations overall, following High Court approval in August to steer the business away from administration.
  • Four branches—Brighton, Edinburgh Princes Street, Great Yarmouth and Stockton‑on‑Tees—shut in late 2025 ahead of this month’s schedule.
  • River Island is also pursuing rent reductions or changes at about 71 additional sites to reshape its store portfolio.
  • Sites confirmed for this month include Lisburn on January 18, Bangor Bloomfield on January 24, and locations such as Oxford and Poole on January 31, as the company reports a £32.3m annual pre‑tax loss with turnover down 15% to £578.1m.