The fashion retailer unveiled a radical restructuring plan earlier this month to reverse recent heavy losses due to a slump in trading.
Bosses blamed the closures on the “migration of shoppers from the high street to online” and higher costs to run stores.
The family-owned retailer confirmed it will close 33 of its 230 stores by January next year as a result.
A further 71 stores are also at risk, depending on talks with landlords in order to secure improved rental deals.
It’s unclear how many jobs are under threat from a formal rescue deal, though the business previously said: “We regret any job losses as a result of store closures, and we will try to keep these to a minimum.”
In total, River Island employs around 5,500 people.
Closing in January 2026 are River Island stores in:
- Beckton
- Bangor Bloomfield
- Wrexham
- Edinburgh Princes Street
- Hereford
- Surrey Quays
- Didcot
- Sutton Coldfield
- Aylesbury
- Burton-Upon-Trent
- Northwich
- Taunton
- Workington
- Falkirk
- Cumbernauld
- Kirkcaldy
- Gloucester
- Hartlepool
- Brighton
- Lisburn
- Norwich
- Oxford
- Poole
- Kilmarnock
- Hanley
- Barnstaple
- Grimsby
- Leeds Birstall Park
- Rochdale
- Great Yarmouth
- St Helens
- Stockton On Tees
- Perth
Ben Lewis, chief executive of River Island, said: “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.”
River Island store closures – shoppers react
Shoppers on X, formerly Twitter, shared their thoughts around the closures as well as losing another high street name.
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One person said: “We are creating ghost towns, more empty shops and a deserted high street.
Another added: “I used to love River Island, it was where you’d go for a night out outfit.”
One shared: “That’s 33 [shops] too many if you ask me – proper shops should stay, not vanish like they’re just a bad dream.
And another commented: “More and more shop online, why risk the costs of rent, rates and electricity for high street stores along with staffing and shoplifting losses?”
