Brighton’s high street will lose another big name early next year as fashion retailer River Island confirmed it will close its Western Road branch in January 2026.
The move is part of a nationwide shake-up that will see 33 River Island stores shut their doors for good, after the chain posted a £33.2 million pre-tax loss last year and reported a 19% drop in sales.
Western Road, once a bustling strip of major high street names, has been hit particularly hard. While independents and boutique retailers still draw shoppers, high commercial rents and business rates have made it increasingly difficult for big brands to survive.
River Island says it hopes to redeploy staff from closing stores to other locations, but the company admits it is having to adapt rapidly to the way customers now shop — with more than half of sales now made online.
The closure will leave a noticeable gap in Brighton’s retail landscape and raises questions over how the city centre will adapt as the high street continues to change.
