River Island store closure locations revealed amid major restructure
River Island has revealed the locations of the 33 stores it plans to shut under a sweeping restructuring plan aimed at cutting costs and securing fresh funding.
River Island has named the 33 stores it plans to close as part of its formal restructuring proposal, which is due to go to a creditor vote in August before being sanctioned by the High Court.
The closures are part of the embattled fashion retailer’s strategy to reshape its store estate and cut costs amid mounting losses.
Drapers reports that River Island will keep the affected shops open until January 2026 to benefit from peak trading and re-align its stock position.
In documents submitted to the court seen by the title, the retailer has divided its store estate into seven categories, with 33 sites earmarked for closure, 71 subject to rent reductions, and just nine set to retain full rent payments.
Under the plans, 38 stores will face rent cuts of up to 75% for three years, while 24 stores are set to move to a zero-rent model.
The retailer said stores slated for closure are “no longer where the group customers shop” and keeping them open “diverts resources which are needed for the group to return to profit quickly”.
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Chief executive Ben Lewis said last week: “River Island is a much-loved retailer, with a decades-long history on the British high street. 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. We regret any job losses as a result of store closures, and we will try to keep these to a minimum.”
River Island has said the proposals will not affect trade creditors, employees at unaffected stores or customers.
The 33 store closure locations are: Aberdeen Union Square, Basildon, Bedford, Beverley, Birmingham Fort, Blackburn, Bolton, Broughton Park, Cannock, Castleford, Chesterfield, Crewe, Derby, Doncaster, Edinburgh Princes Street, Fareham, Gateshead Metrocentre, Glasgow Argyle Street, Glasgow Silverburn, Grimsby, Halifax, Harrow, Huddersfield, Ipswich, Kidderminster, Kilmarnock, Leamington Spa, Loughborough, Luton, Middlesbrough, Peterborough, Southport, Walsall.
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