Radley London closes down all UK stores after 28 years

Radley has closed its last remaining stores after falling into administration earlier this year.

It entered administration in May following what FTI Consulting described as a “sustained period of challenging economic conditions.”

Now, all its physical stores have closed their doors for the final time.

Radley London closes all stores after 28 years after entering administration

After entering administration, Gordon Brothers, which owns Poundland and LK Bennett, acquired the brand, intellectual property and some assets in a pre-pack administration deal.

However, the purchase did not include Radley’s 21 UK stores.

Customers were offered up to 70% off in clearance sales in the weeks that followed, with Radley’s website taken offline on August 19.

The closure resulted in the loss of 42 jobs.

The UK handbag and accessories retailer was founded in 1998 at London’s Camden Market by Lowell Harder.

Radley had developed a strong retail partnership with John Lewis and other stockists during its years of trading.

The British accessories brand designs and retails leather handbags, purses, footwear, and related accessories.

In addition to its core product lines, Radley also licenses its name for eyewear, jewellery, watches, and beauty products.

Retailer returns to UK high street after 7 years

In more positive news for the high street, a popular brand has returned after seven years.

Karen Millen is a luxury womenswear brand that specialises in tailoring, coats, and other occasionwear.

It collapsed into administration in 2019 before being acquired by Boohoo Group.

As a result, the company closed all its physical stores across the country and moved to an online-only model.

Now, Karen Millen is returning to the high street after a seven-year absence.

The luxury womenswear brand will relaunch through a series of new concessions across the UK, with a focus on occasionwear and its signature Forever Collection, Drapers reports.

The Leicester store at Fosse Park will be the first to open today (Friday, August 14), followed by additional locations in Liverpool One and Aberdeen’s Union Square on Monday, August 17.

More concessions are set to follow, although the date and areas have not yet been confirmed.

Dan Finley, CEO of Debenhams Group, which owns Karen Millen, said: “Karen Millen is a brand with real heritage, recognition and a loyal customer base, so bringing it back to the high street is a significant moment.

“Our customers want great fashion, but they also want to experience brands in different ways, and physical retail gives us another opportunity to do that.”

The return is part of a partnership with TFG (The Foschini Group), which also owns Hobbs, Phase Eight, and Whistles.

The new concessions will showcase curated ranges of Karen Millen’s most popular pieces.

UK companies that have closed or entered administration or liquidation in 2026

Despite Karen Millen’s return, it has been a difficult year for the high street, with many businesses being forced to close stores and others entering administration or liquidation.

Major high street brands LK Bennett and Claire’s have both closed all their stores, having previously fallen into administration.

UK fashion retailers Leading Labels and Quiz have also shut down all remaining stores after falling into liquidation.

Other retailers that have been forced to close stores this year include the likes of River Island and Poundland.

It’s not been all bad news for the UK high street, with several major brands announcing new store openings for 2026, including Aldi, M&S, and Superdrug.

Fellow fashion retailer Evans has also returned to the high street after six years.

The plus-size clothing brand, catering to sizes 14 to 32, closed all stores and concessions in December 2020 after its parent company, Arcadia Group, fell into administration.

Recommended reading:

The retailer initially shifted to an online-only model before being acquired by AK Retail in 2023, which also owns Yours Clothing and M&Co.

The plus-size clothing retailer is now available in over 50 Yours Clothing stores across the UK and Ireland, including in Liverpool, Swansea, Watford, and Glasgow (Braehead Shopping Centre).

Dedicated Evans sections can now be found in 36 Yours Clothing stores around the UK.

What is your favourite high street fashion retailer? Let us know in the comments.