River Island announces exact date store to close as 33 more to be shut down in months | UK | News
A large British retailer with more than 230 branches in the UK and Ireland has been prepared to close as part of a large restructuring plan for the winner of several stores in the UK. River Island’s Prince Street store in Edinburgh will close its doors on Friday, September 5, after the reconstruction of the company by the Supreme Court in early this summer. Customers are directed to the nearby branches in Fort Kinnaird and The Gyle to continue online shopping at Riverisland.com.
A notification in the store window writes: “This store is closing. This store will close as of Friday, September 5th. Please visit us on Riverisland.com or from the nearest stores. We will see you soon.” A shopping person reacted to the news on Facebook: “This is a sad news, but not unexpected in the current climate.” Another wrote: “Another sad news for everyone’s high streets.”
The closing points to the beginning of more than one cover throughout the UK in the midst of sales and increasing operational costs. In January 2026, a total of 33 stores will close and approximately 110 work will risk. After River Island reported 32.3 million £ before the tax loss last year, the turnover reached £ 578.1 million with a 15% drop in the turnover.
River Island CEO Ben Lewis said: “River Island is a very popular retailer in the British Hight Street, a very popular retailer. However, the migration of shoppers from the high street online left the business with a large store portfolio that is no longer suitable for the needs of our customers.
“In the last few years, the sharp increase in the cost of doing business has only contributed to the financial burden.
“We have a clear strategy to transform the business to ensure long -term applicability. The latest developments in our fashion offer and in -store shopping experience have already shown very positive results, but a restructuring plan that we can see as a profitable retail business and see this strategy.
He continued: “As a result of the closing of the store, we will cook from any work loss and try to keep them at a minimum.”
