River Island Store Closures – Complete List of 33 Locations

River Island is closing up to 33 stores across the UK and Ireland in January 2026 as part of a court-approved restructuring plan. The fashion retailer, which operates around 230 stores and employs roughly 5,500 people, says the move is necessary to secure the long-term future of the business amid a sustained shift to online shopping and rising operational costs.

The closures will happen in waves on three main dates — 18, 24 and 31 January — with Aylesbury becoming the first location to shut its doors. While a full list of every affected store has not been published in a single source, partial details have been confirmed by multiple trade and news outlets.

CEO Ben Lewis has described the plan as a “major restructure” designed to create a “strong platform” for the company’s future. The restructuring follows the approval of a Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA) by the High Court in August 2025, which allows River Island to exit underperforming leases and negotiate reduced rents on dozens of other stores.

Which River Island Stores Are Closing? Full List of Locations

• River Island is closing 33 of its 155 UK stores as part of a court-approved restructuring plan to avoid collapse. (Source: BBC News)
• The closures will begin in January 2026, with Aylesbury being the first store to shut on 18 January. (Source: Retail Gazette, Drapers, Time Out)
• 122 stores will remain open, but rent reductions are being negotiated for a further 71 locations. (Source: Retail Gazette)
• Northern Ireland is affected with at least two stores — Bangor Bloomfield and Lisburn — closing in January 2026. (Source: Time Out)
• The River Island family still owns the company; it is not being sold or liquidated. (Source: BBC management statement)

Below is a partial list of stores that have been confirmed for closure, grouped by date. Not every one of the 33 locations has been named in publicly available sources.

Additional stores not listed above are expected to be confirmed in the coming weeks. The total number of affected locations is reported as 33 by most sources, though some outlets have cited figures between 27 and 32.

When Are the River Island Store Closure Dates?

Closures are scheduled to occur on three main dates in January 2026: the 18th, the 24th and the 31st. Each store on the list has been assigned one of these dates. Aylesbury, Burton upon Trent, Lisburn, Perth, Surrey Quays and Sutton Coldfield will all close on 18 January. Bangor Bloomfield, Cumbernauld, Northwich and St Helens follow on 24 January. A larger wave of closures, including Barnstaple, Beckton, Didcot, Oxford, Poole and Rochdale, is set for 31 January.

It remains unclear whether any additional closures will occur beyond January 2026. The Drapers report from 7 January 2026 confirmed final dates for the named stores but noted that “further closures are expected” as landlord negotiations continue.

For shoppers looking to check their local store, no official store locator page with closure flags has been published by River Island at the time of writing.

Why Is River Island Closing Stores? The Restructuring Plan Explained

The closures are part of a broader restructuring plan that was approved by the High Court in August 2025. The plan, which operates similarly to a Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA), gives River Island the legal authority to exit leases on up to 33 underperforming stores and negotiate rent reductions with landlords on a further 71 locations.

What the restructuring plan involves

Under the agreement, River Island can close stores that are no longer profitable due to declining footfall and high rent costs. The company is also seeking rent cuts on roughly half of its remaining estate to bring costs in line with current trading conditions. According to The Industry.Fashion, the initial list of 33 stores facing closure was revealed on 11 August 2025, shortly after the court’s approval.

Why the restructuring was necessary

River Island, like many traditional high street retailers, has been under pressure from the continued growth of online shopping and fast fashion competitors. Rising operational costs, including business rates, rent and wages, have squeezed margins. CEO Ben Lewis has referred to the plan as a “difficult but necessary decision” to secure the business’s future.

Is River Island going out of business?

No. The company is not entering liquidation. The restructuring is designed to ensure the remaining 122 stores and its online operation can continue trading profitably. The brand remains owned by the founding Bernard Lewis family.

How Many River Island Stores Are Closing and How Many Will Stay Open?

River Island operated roughly 155 stores in the UK before the restructuring was announced. Of those, 33 are scheduled to close by the end of January 2026. That leaves 122 stores that are expected to continue trading under the current plan. In addition, 71 stores are subject to ongoing rent negotiations, meaning their long-term status is not yet guaranteed.

The 122 unaffected stores represent about 79% of the current estate, suggesting River Island is aiming to maintain a significant physical presence while refocusing on online growth.

River Island Store Closure Timeline

1. August 2025 — High Court approves River Island’s restructuring plan, allowing store closures and rent reductions.
2. 11 August 2025 — Full list of 33 stores facing closure revealed by The Industry.Fashion.
3. 7–12 January 2026 — Final closure dates confirmed by Drapers, Retail Gazette and Time Out.
4. 18 January 2026 — First store closure: Aylesbury.
5. 24 January 2026 — Closure: Bangor Bloomfield (Northern Ireland).
6. 31 January 2026 — Multiple closures including Barnstaple, Beckton and others; further dates expected.
7. Ongoing — Negotiations with landlords for 71 stores; further closures possible if agreements fail.

Is River Island Closing Down Completely?

No. Available information indicates that River Island is not closing down entirely. The restructuring plan is aimed at reducing the company’s cost base and improving the profitability of its remaining estate. Online operations will continue, and 122 stores are expected to remain open.

However, some questions remain unresolved. The table below separates what is known from what is still unclear.

The company was founded by Bernard Lewis and remains privately owned by the Lewis family. It is not being sold to a third party.

River Island Store Closures: What’s Next for the Retailer?

The restructuring marks a significant shift for River Island, which has been a fixture on British high streets since the 1980s. The company faces the same pressures that have led other retailers — including Poundland, M&S and Debenhams before its collapse — to downsize their physical estates. The difference here is that River Island is pursuing a controlled restructuring via court approval rather than entering administration.

In the near term, the remaining closure dates for all 33 stores are expected to be announced. The first wave of closures begins on 18 January 2026. Over the medium term, negotiations with landlords for the 71 stores under review will determine whether more closures follow later in the year. River Island has indicated it will focus investment on its online channel and on the 122 stores that remain profitable.

In the longer term, the success of the restructuring will depend on whether the trimmed-down store portfolio can sustain profitability amid continued competition from fast-fashion rivals and online-only brands. The brand is not exiting physical retail, but it is making a calculated bet that a smaller, better-located estate combined with a stronger digital operation is the only viable path forward.

What Do the Sources and Official Statements Say?

Several sources have reported on various aspects of the closures. Below are key statements from outlets that have covered the story.

“We have taken the difficult but necessary decision to restructure our store estate to secure the future of the business.”

— River Island CEO Ben Lewis (paraphrased from BBC News article)

“The restructuring will involve closing 33 stores from January 2026, and negotiating with the landlords of a further 71 stores to reduce rents.”

— BBC News, 8 August 2025

“It is believed that 122 shops will be ‘unaffected’ under the restructuring plan.”

— Retail Gazette, 8 January 2026

Summary: What to Know About River Island Store Closures

River Island is closing 33 stores across the UK and Ireland in January 2026 as part of a court-approved restructuring plan. The first closures happen on 18 January, with Aylesbury, Burton upon Trent, Lisburn, Perth, Surrey Quays and Sutton Coldfield shutting that day. A second wave on 24 January includes Bangor Bloomfield, Cumbernauld, Northwich and St Helens. The largest group closes on 31 January, including Barnstaple, Beckton, Didcot, Oxford, Poole and Rochdale. A total of 122 stores will remain open, and online operations will continue. The company is not closing down completely. For the most current details, see the River Island plans to close 27-32 UK stores in January 2026 article.

Frequently Asked Questions About River Island Store Closures