Brighton’s River Island to Close in January 2026
Brighton’s high street is set to lose another big-name store. River Island has confirmed it will shut its Western Road shop in January 2026. This is part of a nationwide cull that will see 33 River Island stores close their doors for good.
River Island’s Struggles Spark Major Shake-Up
The fashion retailer posted a staggering £33.2 million pre-tax loss last year alongside a 19% plunge in sales. A court-approved restructuring led by PricewaterhouseCoopers, backed by a £40 million investor cash injection, will allow the Brighton store to trade through Christmas before shutting.
While 71 other branches face the axe, their fate hinges on landlords agreeing to steep rent cuts — something many see as unlikely.
Brighton High Street in Crisis
River Island’s exit adds to Brighton’s long list of retail casualties. Over the last decade, the city has bid farewell to Debenhams, Topshop, GAP, HMV, and British Home Stores. Many empty units remain boarded up or replaced by discount shops and coffee chains.
Western Road, once a bustling retail hotspot, has borne the brunt. High rents and crippling business rates have pushed many big-name brands out, leaving independents and boutiques as the main draw.
River Island Aims to Redeploy Staff but Faces Online Shift
River Island says it hopes to redeploy staff from closing stores to other outlets. However, the company admits it must rapidly adapt to changing shopper habits — more than half of its sales now come from online shopping.
The closure will leave a visible gap on Brighton’s high street and raises pressing questions about the future of retail in the city centre as the landscape continues to evolve.
