River Island has confirmed the closure of 11 stores across the UK today as part of a major restructuring plan reducing its store portfolio from 250 to 122 branches
River Island is shutting 11 branches across the UK today (January 31) in yet another setback for the high street.
The fashion retailer had previously revealed it would be implementing a wave of closures as part of a significant restructuring strategy. Under the plan, River Island confirmed the 250 outlets it formerly ran would be reduced to just 122.
The Sutton Coldfield location will be among the first shops to close permanently. Earlier this year, Ben Lewis, CEO of River Island, said: “River Island is a much-loved retailer, with a decades-long history on the British high street.
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“However, 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. The sharp rise in the cost of doing business over the last few years has only added to the financial burden. We have a clear strategy to transform the business to ensure its long-term viability.”
“Recent improvements in our fashion offer and in-store shopping experience are already showing very positive results, but it is only with a restructuring plan that we will be able to see this strategy through and secure River Island’s future as a profitable retail business,” he added, reports Birmingham Live. “We regret any job losses as a result of store closures, and we will try to keep these to a minimum.”
Complete list of River Island branches closing January 31, 2026:
- Barnstaple
- Beckton
- Didcot
- Falkirk
- Gloucester
- Grimsby
- Hereford
- Kirkcaldy
- Oxford
- Poole
- Rochdale
It comes as other big names of the British high street have confirmed or carried out closures including Poundland, Primark and Superdrug. At the start of 2026, Primark shut their Dartford store in the Orchard Shopping Centre in what is believed to be the company’s first closure in around 10 years.
Primark cafés which are only in selected stores are also closing at four sites – Glasgow Braehead, Edinburgh Princes Street, Birmingham High Street and Belfast Royal Avenue. No Primark employees are understood to be impacted by this action.
Poundland has already seen a wave of store closures, with more shutdowns to come. It was recently confirmed that nine further locations would be closing before the end of March.
The Bristol Avon Meads store closed on January 29, with the Winton store in Dorset set to close on February 6. Just two days later, on February 8 the CHichester, Coatbridge and Feltham stores will close.
The Crayford branch will close on February 11, while the Chilwell branch in Nottingham will close on February 13. The last of the latest run of closures will be the Urmston store, set to close on February 16.
