A fashion retailer has confirmed the closure of another store in a fresh blow to the high street. River Island will shut one of its two Stoke-on-Trent stores, the Hanley store in The Potteries Centre, in January 2026.
The branch will slash the prices of all its items ahead of closure. All items will be sold for £10 and under, with all tops and children’s clothing priced at £5. Shoppers can also get their hands on dresses and coats for £10 or less. The Stoke-on-Trent store is one of 35 earmarked for closure following a restructuring programme approved by the High Court.
As of March 28, 2025, the fashion behemoth had 207 stores across the UK, according to ScrapeHero. River Island has faced mounting financial difficulties in recent years, with its latest accounts showing a £33.2 million full-year loss following a 19% plunge in sales. As part of the proposals, the company is also in talks over rent cuts at 71 outlets.
Chief executive officer Ben Lewis 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.”
He further noted that the company has a “clear strategy to transform the business to ensure its long-term viability”.
He added: “Recent improvements in our fashion offer and in-store shopping experience are already showing very positive results, but it is only with a restructuring plan that we will be able to see this strategy through and secure River Island’s future as a profitable retail business.
“The sharp rise in the cost of doing business over the last few years has only added to the financial burden. We regret any job losses as a result of store closures, and we will try to keep these to a minimum.”
Full list of 35 River Island closures
Beckton
Bangor Bloomfield
Wrexham
Edinburgh Princes Street
Hereford
Surrey Quays
Didcot
Sutton Coldfield
Aylesbury
Burton-Upon-Trent
Northwich
Taunton
Workington
Falkirk
Cumbernauld
Kirkcaldy
Gloucester
Hartlepool
Brighton
Lisburn
Norwich
Oxford
Poole
Kilmarnock
Hanley
Barnstaple
Grimsby
Leeds Birstall Park
Rochdale
Great Yarmouth
St Helens
Stockton-on-Tees
Perth
Wandsworth
Omagh
