River Island and Primark are among the major retailers that have revealed plans to close stores in January 2026. The Centre for Retail Research reported that 54 retailers went bankrupt last year, leading to the closure of 3,080 stores and impacting 30,153 employees. Retail sales volumes experienced a slight decline of 0.1% in November, according to the Office for National Statistics.
River Island is set to shut down at least 27 stores this month as part of a restructuring effort that initially aimed to close 33 stores. Several locations, including branches in Brighton, Edinburgh Princes Street, Great Yarmouth, and Stockton-on-Tees, have already ceased operations in late 2025. However, the closure dates for stores in Norwich, Norfolk, and Workington, Cumbria, are yet to be confirmed.
Poundland is also undergoing a restructure and will close 12 shops this month following approval from the High Court. The discount retailer had previously closed 57 stores by September last year after being acquired by investment firm Gordon Brothers for a nominal fee.
Meanwhile, Primark closed its Dartford store on January 3 due to the building’s urgent need for repairs, marking its first closure in over a decade. Philippa Nibbs, Primark’s director of sales for UK South and South East, explained that the decision was influenced by the extensive repair work required and the proximity of other Primark stores. There are plans to relocate more than half of the affected employees to nearby stores and provide support to those leaving the company.
In addition, Lloyds Banking Group, including Lloyds Bank, Halifax, and Bank of Scotland, will collectively close 34 bank branches this month, citing the increasing trend of online banking as the reason for the closures. This includes 17 Lloyds branches, eight Halifax sites, and nine Bank of Scotland branches.