River Island and Primark are among the major retailers that have revealed plans to close stores in January 2026. Last year, 54 retailers collapsed, leading to the shutdown 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, following a previous announcement to close 33 stores as part of a significant restructuring effort. Stores in Brighton, Edinburgh Princes Street, Great Yarmouth, and Stockton-on-Tees have already closed by the end of 2025. However, the closure dates for the remaining locations, including Norwich, Norfolk, and Workington, Cumbria, are yet to be confirmed.
Poundland is also undergoing a restructure, with plans to close 12 stores this month after shutting down 57 stores by September last year. The company was acquired by investment firm Gordon Brothers for £1.
In a rare move, Primark closed its Dartford store on January 3 due to significant building repair needs. Philippa Nibbs, Primark’s director of sales for UK South and South East, explained the closure decision was influenced by the extensive repair work required and the proximity of other Primark stores. The majority of affected employees are expected to transition to nearby stores, with support in place for those leaving the company.
Lloyds Banking Group, which includes Lloyds Bank, Halifax, and Bank of Scotland, will close a total of 34 bank branches this month (17 Lloyds branches, eight Halifax sites, and nine Bank of Scotland branches). The closures are attributed to the increasing trend of online banking usage, according to Lloyds.