River Island and Primark have both confirmed plans to close stores in January 2026. Last year, 54 retailers went out of business, leading to the closure of 3,080 stores and impacting 30,153 employees, as reported by the Centre for Retail Research. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) data for November showed a slight decrease of 0.1% in retail sales volumes.
River Island is set to shut down at least 27 stores this month as part of a restructuring effort that previously included the closure of 33 stores. Locations like Brighton, Edinburgh Princes Street, Great Yarmouth, and Stockton-on-Tees have already been closed, while the closure dates for stores in Norwich, Norfolk, and Workington, Cumbria are yet to be finalized.
Poundland is also undergoing a restructure, with plans to close 12 shops in January. The discount retailer had closed 57 stores by September following its acquisition by investment firm Gordon Brothers for a nominal fee.
Primark closed its Dartford store on January 3 due to significant building repair needs. This closure, believed to be the first in over a decade, was attributed to the building’s condition. Philippa Nibbs, Primark’s director of sales for UK South and South East, mentioned that the decision was influenced by the extensive repair work required and the proximity to other Primark stores.
Lloyds Banking Group, including Lloyds Bank, Halifax, and Bank of Scotland, will collectively close 34 bank branches this month, citing the increasing shift towards online banking as the reason for the closures. The closures will affect 17 Lloyds branches, eight Halifax sites, and nine Bank of Scotland branches.