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River Island to Close 33 Stores by End of January in Court-Approved Restructure

A High Court–approved plan aims to realign the chain’s store estate to secure its long-term viability.

Overview

  • The retailer confirmed 33 closures to be completed by the end of January 2026, with the full list of locations published by news outlets.
  • Seventy-one stores will receive rent reductions under the restructuring, and parts of the company’s debt will be written off.
  • River Island will retain 122 stores from an estate of more than 200 and continues to employ about 5,500 people.
  • Chief executive Ben Lewis cites the shift to online shopping, ultra-cheap fast-fashion rivals and rising operating costs as drivers for the overhaul.
  • The scheme secured High Court approval earlier this year, and company accounts show pre-tax losses of £33.2m in 2023 and £64m in 2024.