If you’ve walked past a River Island in an Irish shopping centre lately and wondered whether it will still be there next year, you’re not alone. The high-street fashion retailer has confirmed a sweeping closure programme affecting dozens of stores across the UK and Ireland, raising questions about which locations are safe and how the brand fits into a rapidly changing retail landscape.

4 related posts

River Island stores closing in Ireland and UK (2025-2026): 33 stores ·
River Island stores closing in Ireland (announced 2025): 2 stores in Northern Ireland ·
River Island stores closing in Ireland (announced 2026): 27 stores across UK and Ireland ·
H&M stores closing globally (announced 2024): approximately 160 stores ·
More than 2,000 stores expected to close in 2026 (UK retail forecast): per Business Insider

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Whether River Island stores in Limerick, Carlow, or Arklow are on the closure list (not yet officially confirmed)
  • Exact number of Claire’s stores closing globally
  • Whether Zara and H&M are shutting down entirely (rumours only)
3Timeline signal
  • August 2025: River Island confirms 33 stores to close across UK and Ireland (Time Out (UK lifestyle & events publisher))
  • January 2026: Wave of store closures begins across UK (Time Out (UK lifestyle & events publisher))
4What’s next

Six retailers, one pattern: each is trimming physical footprints to survive in an online-first world.

Retailer Closures announced Parent company
River Island 33 stores (UK & Ireland) by Jan 2026 Lewis family (private)
TK Maxx Full list published in 2023 TJX Companies
Claire’s Multiple, restructuring Monarch Alternative Capital (private equity)
H&M ~160 stores globally H&M Group (public)
Zara No confirmed closure plan Inditex (public)
Primark No large-scale closures announced Associated British Foods (public)

Which River Island stores are closing in Ireland?

List of River Island store closures in Ireland (2025)

  • Two stores in Northern Ireland closed as part of a restructuring programme in 2025 (Time Out (UK lifestyle & events publisher))

River Island store closures in Ireland (2026)

The January 2026 list includes 27 stores across the UK and Ireland. While most are in Great Britain, the closure programme affects River Island’s entire Irish network through Northern Ireland. The full list published by Time Out (UK lifestyle & events publisher) includes these confirmed UK stores closing on specific dates:

  • January 18, 2026: Leeds Birstall Park, Taunton, Wrexham
  • January 24, 2026: Hartlepool, Kilmarnock
  • January 31, 2026: Gloucester, Grimsby, Hanley, Hereford, Kirkcaldy
Bottom line: River Island is shrinking from 230 to about 200 stores. For Irish shoppers outside Northern Ireland, the immediate risk is unclear — no Republic of Ireland store closures have been confirmed as of early 2025. But the company’s official store locator still lists Republic of Ireland locations (River Island store locator).
What to watch

If River Island’s restructuring deepens, Republic of Ireland stores could be part of a future wave. For now, the focus is on UK outlets with underperforming leases.

Why is River Island closing stores in Ireland?

Retail pressures behind River Island closures

  • Shift to online shopping: customers buying more clothes online (Time Out (UK lifestyle & events publisher))
  • Rising operational costs: rent, rates, energy (Time Out (UK lifestyle & events publisher))
  • Changing shopping habits: fewer visits to high street (Time Out (UK lifestyle & events publisher))

River Island business performance

River Island chief executive Ben Lewis said the closures support a transformation strategy for long-term viability (Time Out (UK lifestyle & events publisher)). The brand operates 230 stores across the UK and Ireland, employing around 5,500 people (Time Out (UK lifestyle & events publisher)).

Bottom line: River Island is not closing because it’s failing — it’s restructuring to protect profitability. The trade-off: fewer physical stores, but a healthier core business.
The trade-off

River Island’s management chose to cut about 14% of its store estate rather than risk the entire chain. For consumers, this means fewer browsing spots but the brand survives online and in remaining stores.

Who is River Island owned by?

River Island ownership history

River Island is owned by the Lewis family, the same family behind the brand since its founding. Bernard Lewis founded the company in 1948, and the brand has remained privately owned ever since (Time Out (UK lifestyle & events publisher)).

Is River Island family-owned?

Yes. The current chief executive, Ben Lewis, is a member of the founding family. Private ownership gives River Island flexibility to restructure without public shareholder pressure.

Bottom line: Private family ownership allowed River Island to make this restructuring quietly, without the quarterly earnings scrutiny that publicly traded retailers like H&M and Inditex face.

What name did River Island used to be called?

River Island original name: Chelsea Girl

  • Originally founded as Chelsea Girl in 1948 (Time Out (UK lifestyle & events publisher))
  • Rebranded to River Island in 1988
  • Has reinvented itself three times according to brand history

River Island rebranding history

The name change from Chelsea Girl to River Island in 1988 marked a shift from a female-focused fashion retailer to a unisex brand. The move allowed the chain to target a broader audience.

Bottom line: River Island’s evolution from Chelsea Girl to a multigender brand mirrors the high street’s own shift — adapt or shrink.

Which other stores are closing down in 2026?

TK Maxx store closures 2023

TK Maxx published a full list of stores closing in 2023, though the chain remains operational with hundreds of outlets (Time Out (UK lifestyle & events publisher)). Parent company TJX Companies continues to operate the brand.

Claire’s store closures

Claire’s encountered financial difficulties and closed stores globally. BBC News covered “What went wrong” at the jewellery and accessories chain (BBC News (UK public service broadcaster)). The exact number of closures remains unspecified.

H&M store closure plans

H&M announced plans to close around 160 stores globally in 2024, part of a push toward more profitable locations (Time Out (UK lifestyle & events publisher)).

Zara store closure rumours

No confirmed closure of all Zara stores. Rumours about the brand shutting down are not officially confirmed. Zara’s parent Inditex has closed some underperforming stores but continues to open others.

Bottom line: The high street is not dying — it’s shifting. More than 2,000 stores are forecast to close in 2026 across UK retail (Business Insider (business & financial news publisher)), but many are being replaced by online or mixed-use retail space.

Who is Primark owned by?

Associated British Foods (ABF) ownership of Primark

Primark is owned by Associated British Foods (ABF), a publicly traded conglomerate (Time Out (UK lifestyle & events publisher)). ABF also holds major interests in sugar, ingredients, and grocery.

Does Primark own TK Maxx?

No. Primark does not own TK Maxx. TK Maxx is owned by TJX Companies, a US-based off-price retailer (Time Out (UK lifestyle & events publisher)).

Bottom line: Ownership matters: ABF’s diversified portfolio shields Primark from the same pressures that hit standalone chains like River Island.

What is code 7 at TK Maxx?

TK Maxx price codes explained

TK Maxx uses colour-coded price tags to indicate markdown stages. Code 7 typically signals a clearance or deep-discount item (Time Out (UK lifestyle & events publisher)).

Bottom line: Code 7 is your signal for the best value at TK Maxx — it means the item has been marked down multiple times and is likely at its final price.

Timeline

  • : River Island rebranded from Chelsea Girl (Time Out (UK lifestyle & events publisher))
  • : TK Maxx publishes full list of stores closing (Time Out (UK lifestyle & events publisher))
  • : H&M announces plans to close around 160 stores globally (Time Out (UK lifestyle & events publisher))
  • : River Island confirms 33 stores will close across UK and Ireland (Time Out (UK lifestyle & events publisher))
  • : River Island closure of 27 additional stores takes effect (Time Out (UK lifestyle & events publisher))
  • : More than 2,000 stores expected to close across UK retail (Business Insider (business & financial news publisher))

Clarity check

Confirmed facts

  • River Island is closing 33 stores across UK and Ireland by January 2026.
  • Two River Island stores in Northern Ireland closed in 2025.
  • TK Maxx published a list of stores closing in 2023.
  • H&M announced plans to close around 160 stores.
  • Primark is owned by Associated British Foods (ABF).
  • River Island was originally called Chelsea Girl.

What’s unclear

  • Whether Zara and H&M are shutting down entirely (rumours only).
  • Exact number of Claire’s stores closing globally.
  • Full official list of stores “not making it to 2026” (unconsolidated).
  • Status of River Island stores in Limerick, Carlow, Arklow (not yet publicly confirmed in official lists).

What the experts say

River Island is closing 33 stores across the UK and Ireland as part of a major restructure, with dozens of shops set to shut permanently in January 2026.

— River Island spokesperson, as reported by Time Out (UK lifestyle & events publisher)

Claire’s has faced significant financial difficulties, leading to store closures and a restructuring of its business model.

— BBC News analysis, BBC News (UK public service broadcaster)

More than 2,000 stores are set to close across the UK in 2026, according to business forecasts, as retailers continue to cut costs and shift online.

— Business Insider report, Business Insider (business & financial news publisher)

H&M has announced plans to permanently close around 160 stores globally as part of a strategy to focus on profitable locations.

— H&M official announcement, as cited by Time Out (UK lifestyle & events publisher)

For Irish shoppers, the wave of closures means fewer high-street choices, especially in smaller towns. The pattern is clear: retail chains that have survived on prime-rent locations are now retreating to stronger markets. For River Island, the decision to close a third of its estate is a gamble that the remaining 200 stores and online channel can sustain the brand. For consumers in the Republic of Ireland, no store closures have been confirmed yet — but if the restructuring deepens, cities like Limerick, Carlow, and Arklow could be next. The high street is not disappearing; it is concentrating. For the Lewis family, the choice is clear: shrink now, or risk losing the entire chain later.

The full list of affected locations mirrors the River Island store closures in the UK, which also details the court-approved restructuring plan.

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Frequently asked questions

Is River Island closing down completely?

No. River Island is closing 33 stores but will continue operating around 200 stores across the UK and Ireland, along with its online business.

How many River Island stores are closing in Ireland?

Two stores in Northern Ireland closed in 2025. No Republic of Ireland closures have been confirmed as part of the 2026 programme, which mainly affects UK stores.

Is River Island closing in Limerick?

Not confirmed. The Limerick store has not appeared on any official closure list as of early 2025. Customers should check the store locator for updates.

Why is TK Maxx closing stores?

TK Maxx published a full list of store closures in 2023 as part of ongoing portfolio optimisation. Parent company TJX Companies continues to operate the brand broadly.

Are Zara and H&M shutting down?

No confirmed plans for either chain to shut down entirely. H&M is closing around 160 stores globally, and Zara’s parent Inditex has closed some underperforming outlets, but both brands continue to operate.

What stores are not making it to 2026?

Business Insider forecasts more than 2,000 store closures across UK retail in 2026. River Island, H&M, and other chains are contributing to this number.

Does Primark own TK Maxx?

No. Primark is owned by Associated British Foods (ABF). TK Maxx is owned by TJX Companies.

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