River Island to close North East shops as part of changes

Branches in Hartlepool and Stockton have been named among the locations to go, with closures expected by the end of January.

The move follows the High Court’s approval of the company’s restructuring plan in August, which aims to stabilise the business after significant financial losses.

River Island reported pre-tax losses of £33.2m in 2023, worsening to £64m in 2024, with the retailer blaming a shift to online shopping and soaring operating costs.

River Island (Image: PA MEDIA)

The closures will reduce River Island’s high street footprint in Teesside, leaving nearby stores such as Middlesbrough and Darlington as the closest alternatives for shoppers.

Seventy-one stores will remain open but will see rent reductions or debt written off as part of the restructuring.

The retailer currently operates more than 200 shops across the UK and employs around 5,500 staff.

River Island has not confirmed how many local jobs will be affected by the Teesside closures.

River Island CEO Ben Lewis said the decision formed part of a broader transformation strategy.

“We have a clear transformation strategy to ensure the long-term viability of the business, and this decision gives us a strong platform to deliver this,” he said.

“Recent improvements in our fashion offer and shopping experience are starting to show results, and the restructuring plan will enable us to align our store estate to our customers’ needs.”

The full list of national closures includes stores in major cities such as Edinburgh, Brighton and Oxford.

Firm dates for any of the closures have not yet been fixed by River Island.

Full list of stores closing:

• Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire
• Bangor Bloomfield, Northern Ireland
• Barnstaple, Devon
• Beckton, Greater London
• Brighton, East Sussex
• Burton-Upon-Trent, Derbyshire
• Cumbernauld, Scotland
• Didcot, Oxfordshire
• Edinburgh Princes Street, Scotland
• Falkirk, Scotland
• Gloucester, Gloucestershire
• Great Yarmouth
• Grimsby, Lincolnshire
• Hanley, Staffordshire
• Hartlepool, Teesside
• Hereford, Herefordshire
• Kilmarnock, Scotland
• Kirkcaldy, Scotland
• Leeds Birstall Park, West Yorkshire
• Lisburn, Northern Ireland
• Northwich, Cheshire
• Norwich, Norfolk
• Oxford, Oxfordshire
• Perth, Scotland
• Poole, Dorset
• Rochdale, Greater Manchester
• St Helens, Merseyside
• Stockton, Teesside
• Surrey Quays, Greater London
• Sutton Coldfield
• Taunton, Somerset
• Workington, Cumbria