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 affecting 30,153 employees. Data from the Office for National Statistics indicated a 0.1% decline in retail sales volumes in November.
River Island is set to shut down at least 27 stores this month as part of a restructuring effort. The fashion retailer had previously announced the closure of 33 stores, including branches in Brighton, Edinburgh Princes Street, Great Yarmouth, and Stockton-on-Tees. Further closures in Norwich, Norfolk, and Workington, Cumbria are pending confirmation dates.
Poundland will close 12 shops in January following approval by the High Court. The discount retailer had already closed 57 stores by the end of September after being acquired by investment firm Gordon Brothers for £1.
Primark closed its Dartford store on January 3 due to the urgent need for building repairs, marking its first closure in over a decade. Philippa Nibbs, Primark’s director of sales for UK South and South East, stated that the decision was based on the extensive repair work required, with more than half of the affected employees transitioning to nearby stores.
Lloyds Banking Group, comprising Lloyds Bank, Halifax, and Bank of Scotland, will close a total of 34 bank branches this month, citing the increasing shift towards online banking as the reason for the closures. This includes 17 Lloyds branches, eight Halifax locations, and nine Bank of Scotland sites.