River Island has confirmed the closure of another store in the UK. It comes as part of the fashion retailer’s wider restructuring plan aimed at keeping the business sustainable in tough economic times.
It has been confirmed that the store in Altrincham will shut for good in January 2026. The shop in the popular Stamford Quarter of the town is one of 35 River Island sites that will close across the UK. Meanwhile, up to 71 other shops also face closure, depending on the outcome of upcoming negotiations with landlords.
As reported by AltrinchamToday, a joint spokesperson from Bruntwood and Trafford Council said: “In line with its national store closures we can confirm that River Island is closing its Stamford Quarter store from January 2026. We will be issuing further updates on who will be moving into the unit in due course.”
The empty unit will become available immediately after the closure. Further announcements on future occupiers are expected in the near future.
River Island employs around 5,500 people across 223 stores in the UK and Ireland. However, the High Court approved a restructuring plan in August aimed at saving the business from collapse.
Like many other cash-strapped retailers, River Island has struggled with increasing operating costs and the rise of online shopping. The company recorded a 19% drop in sales and a £33.2 million annual loss in its most recent accounts.
Elsewhere in the UK, the River Island store on King Street, Great Yarmouth, is also preparing for closure. Signs have appeared in the windows of the shop announcing a closing-down sale with discounts of up to 30%
Ben Lewis, chief executive of River Island, previously 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.”
