River Island is set to close its Leeds Birstall Park branch as part of a broader effort to restructure its operations and avoid insolvency. The store is one of 33 across the UK due to shut by January 2026 as the retailer responds to falling revenue, rising costs, and a shift in consumer shopping habits.
The fashion chain, once a staple of the British high street, is proposing steep rent cuts across dozens more locations, seeking debt relief, and negotiating an emergency loan from its owners to stay afloat. Without creditor approval for the restructuring plan, River Island has warned that it may run out of funds by the end of August and be forced into administration.
The company reported a £33.2 million pre-tax loss in 2023, alongside a 19% drop in turnover. The closure of the Birstall Park store will contribute to significant job losses, with hundreds of roles across the country expected to be affected.
While River Island continues to operate online and in remaining stores, the closure marks a shift for Leeds’ retail sector. Local businesses, landlords, and service providers connected to the Birstall Park site may now face downstream impacts as one of the area’s key tenants prepares to exit.
