River Island: UK fashion chain names closing dates for 27 shops with jobs at risk - including in Yorkshire

• River Island has confirmed final shutdown dates for dozens of UK stores as part of a major overhaul
• The closures follow approval of a Company Voluntary Arrangement aimed at cutting costs
• More than 1,000 jobs could be affected across the retailer’s UK estate
• Some stores are closing in January, while others remain under review pending landlord talks
• Shoppers may see final clearance sales as affected stores prepare to shut

A major fashion chain has confirmed the final shutdown dates for dozens of UK stores, with a Leeds outlet among those now counting down their last days.

River Island is pressing ahead with a major restructuring after its Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA) was approved, allowing it to close 33 underperforming shops as it attempts to stabilise the business amid rising costs and changing shopping habits.

In total, River Island operates around 230 UK stores, but more than 1,000 jobs have been put at risk as part of the overhaul.

For Yorkshire shoppers, the most significant confirmation is the closure of River Island’s Leeds Birstall Park store, which is now set to shut on Sunday, January 18.

The news follows the recent closures of River Island stores in Stockton-on-Tees and other parts of the UK towards the end of 2025.

River Island first announced its intention to close 33 stores in June, while warning that a further 71 locations could also be affected pending negotiations with landlords.

Since then, the retailer has been seeking rent reductions of between 25% and 75% on dozens of sites, with some stores moved onto zero-rent agreements. Despite this, several shops have already closed, and more are now confirmed to follow in January.

Not all locations are impacted. Around 122 River Island stores are expected to remain “unaffected” by the restructuring, while closure dates for the retailer’s Norwich and Workington branches have yet to be confirmed.

For shoppers, the closures may bring final clearance sales as stores prepare to shut their doors, although River Island has not yet confirmed individual in-store discount plans.

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Full list of confirmed River Island closure dates:

1. Aylesbury - January 18
2. Bangor Bloomfield - January 24
3. Barnstaple - January 31
4. Beckton - January 31
5. Burton upon Trent - January 18
6. Cumbernauld - January 24
7. Didcot - January 31
8. Falkirk - January 31
9. Gloucester - January 31
10. Grimsby - January 31
11. Hanley - January 24
12. Hartlepool - January 24
13. Hereford - January 31
14. Kilmarnock - January 24
15. Kirkcaldy - January 31
16. Leeds Birstall Park - January 18
17. Lisburn - January 18
18. Northwich - January 24
19. Oxford - January 31
20. Perth - January 18
21. Poole - January 31
22. Rochdale - January 31
23. St Helens - January 24
24. Surrey Quays - January 18
25. Sutton Coldfield - January 18
26. Taunton - January 18
27. Wrexham - January 18

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