A major UK retailer with over 230 branches in the UK and Ireland has confirmed the closure date for the first of several of its stores in Britain set to shut down as part of a major restructuring plan. River Island’s Princes Street store in Edinburgh will close its doors for good on Friday, September 5, following approval of a company-wide restructuring by the High Court earlier this summer. Customers are being directed to nearby branches at Fort Kinnaird and the Gyle, or to continue shopping online at RiverIsland.com.
A notice in the store window reads: “This store is closing. This store will be closing from Friday 5th September. Please visit us online at RiverIsland.com or at your nearest stores. To all our valued customers, we will see you soon.” One shopper reacted to the news on Facebook by commenting: “This is sad news, but not unexpected in the current climate.” Another wrote: “Another sad bit of news for everyone’s high streets.”
The closure marks just the start of multiple closures across the UK amid falling sales and rising operational costs. A total of 33 stores will shut in January 2026, putting around 110 jobs at risk. The downsizing comes after River Island reported a £32.3 million pre-tax loss last year, alongside a 15% fall in turnover to £578.1 million.
Ben Lewis, CEO of River Island 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.
“The sharp rise in the cost of doing business over the last few years has only added to the financial burden.
“We have a clear strategy to transform the business to ensure its long-term viability. 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.
“We regret any job losses as a result of store closures, and we will try to keep these to a minimum.”
