River Island will shut its Didcot and Oxford stores before the end of January as part of a High Court–approved restructuring plan that will see 33 UK shops close and rents reduced across a further 71 sites.
The fashion chain, which employs about 5,500 people and operates more than 220–230 stores in the UK and Ireland, says the plan is designed to keep the business out of administration and realign stores with customer demand.
Local impact
- Didcot (Orchard Centre) — scheduled to close on 31 January 2026, one of 15 branches with confirmed closure dates published this week.
- Oxford (Westgate) — due to close in January 2026; the exact day has not yet been published by the operator, but local and national outlets report it is among the sites shutting this month.
A full, national list of locations earmarked to shut before the end of January includes Didcot and Oxford alongside Aylesbury, Brighton, Gloucester and others.
Ben Lewis, CEO of River Island, said the restructuring “aligns our store estate to our customers’ needs” following a sharp shift to online shopping and rising operating costs over recent years.
Why now?
The High Court sanctioned River Island’s restructuring plan in August 2025, allowing the retailer to proceed with closures and rent changes under a formal “Part 26A” process. Legal briefings note the court considered evidence of viability and fairness, and used cross-class cram-down powers to approve the plan despite opposition from some landlords.
When are stores shutting?
River Island has released phased closure dates for some branches. Didcot is listed for 31 January alongside Barnstaple, Grimsby, Hereford, Gloucester and Poole. Earlier phases include Aylesbury, Brighton, Burton-upon-Trent, Surrey Quays, Sutton Coldfield and Wrexham (18 January), then Hartlepool, Northwich and St Helens (24 January). Other stores, including Oxford (Westgate), are scheduled to close before the end of January with dates to be confirmed locally.
Full list of locations closing
| Location | Notes |
|---|---|
| Aylesbury | — |
| 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 | Norfolk |
| Grimsby | Lincolnshire |
| Hanley | Staffordshire |
| Hartlepool | County Durham |
| 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 |
| Surrey Quays | Greater London |
| Sutton Coldfield | Warwickshire |
| Taunton | Somerset |
| Workington | Cumbria |
| Wrexham | Wales |
List compiled from national reporting; some sites may publish specific closing dates locally. Check centre pages for the latest information.
What shoppers should know
- Check local pages — exact final trading days and any clearance sales are being posted by centres and local media as dates are confirmed.
- Oxford Westgate store — listed location: Unit 223, Westgate, Queen Street, OX1 1PE.
- Returns & gift cards — River Island says online and remaining stores continue to trade; customers should follow the returns policy on receipts/website.
