River Island and Primark are among the major retailers that have announced store closures for January 2026.
The Centre for Retail Research reported that 54 retailers went bankrupt last year, leading to the closure of 3,080 stores and the loss of 30,153 jobs.
Retail sales volumes saw a slight decrease of 0.1% in November according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS) monthly data.
River Island is set to close a minimum of 27 stores this month as part of a significant restructuring effort, following a previous announcement to shut down 33 stores. Some of the closed stores from the initial announcement include branches in Brighton, Edinburgh Princes Street, Great Yarmouth, and Stockton-on-Tees.
Poundland is planning to close 12 stores in January as part of a restructuring plan approved 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 shut down 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, explained that the decision was influenced by the extensive repairs required and the proximity of other Primark stores.
Lloyds Banking Group, including Lloyds Bank, Halifax, and Bank of Scotland, is closing a total of 34 branches this month, comprising 17 Lloyds branches, eight Halifax sites, and nine Bank of Scotland branches. The closures are attributed to the increasing trend of online banking usage, as stated by Lloyds.
Overall, these closures reflect the challenging retail landscape and shifting consumer behaviors impacting various sectors of the economy.