Another blow to Southend High Street as River Island closes – here’s the full list of River Island store closures

Another well-known retailer has disappeared from Southend High Street, as River Island confirms the permanent closure of its city centre store.

The popular fashion chain, known for its affordable and trend-driven clothing, has shut its Southend branch as part of a major nationwide restructuring. It comes as the brand closes 33 of its 230 UK stores by January 2026, citing the ongoing shift towards online shopping and the rising costs of operating physical locations.

The restructuring project is expected to result in around 200 job losses at River Island across the country.

River Island’s closure marks another setback for Southend’s High Street, which has seen a steady decline in national brands over recent years. Other big names to have left include Debenhams, Clintons, GAME, Topshop and Wilko.

News of the closure has sparked disappointment among shoppers and residents.

Candice McPherson said: “This was one of the only last decent shops on the High Street for clothes – I’m devastated. It was the only shop that made me not go Lakeside.”

Michelle Stimpson said: “Well it’s going to be a vape shop or barbers, let’s face it.”

Top fan Paul Pinder added: “I used to shop there as an 18-year-old when it all first opened as Concept Man upstairs and Chelsea Girl downstairs.”

Natalie Anne commented: “Why is every ‘High Street’ shop not on our High Street? This is supposed to now be a city, yet our High Street is empty.”

Local residents say the closure highlights how far the High Street has changed over the decades – from a bustling shopping destination to one struggling to retain its identity.

While River Island continues to trade online and through its larger stores in Basildon and Lakeside, its exit from Southend marks another chapter in the ongoing transformation of Britain’s seaside high streets.

The wider retail struggle in UK High Streets

Experts point to a combination of factors behind the continued exodus of high street retailers: the long-term rise of online shopping, high business rates, and changing consumer habits.

Seaside high streets like Southend have been particularly vulnerable, with landlords struggling to fill empty units.

Economic pressures, including rent and energy cost increases, have made it harder for mid-sized fashion retailers like River Island to stay profitable. Nationwide, retail analysts warn that many town and city centres are being reshaped by “experience-led” businesses such as cafés, bars, and leisure venues, replacing traditional retail units.

What’s being done to help Southend Highstreet?

Southend City Council has acknowledged the difficulties facing the High Street and says it is working to attract new investment and boost footfall. The council’s City Centre Regeneration Framework includes plans to make the area more appealing to visitors, with proposals for improved public spaces, more events, and support for pop-up traders and independent shops.

A council spokesperson recently said the city was “actively working with landlords and businesses to revitalise the High Street” after a survey revealed that ‘High Street Revitalisation’ is the second highest priority that residents want to see focus on.

Full list of River Island stores expected to close down:

• River Island Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire
• River Island Bangor Bloomfield, Northern Ireland
• River Island Barnstaple, Devon
• River Island Beckton, Greater London
• River Island Birstall (Shopping Park), West Yorkshire
• River Island Brighton, East Sussex
• River Island Burton-Upon-Trent, Derbyshire
• River Island Cumbernauld, Scotland
• River Island Didcot, Oxfordshire
• River Island Edinburgh Princes Street, Scotland
• River Island Falkirk, Scotland
• River Island Gloucester, Gloucestershire
• River Island Great Yarmouth, Norfolk
• River Island Grimsby, Lincolnshire
• River Island Hanley, Staffordshire
• River Island Hartlepool, County Durham
• River Island Hereford, Herefordshire
• River Island Kilmarnock, Scotland
• River Island Kirkcaldy, Scotland
• River Island Lisburn, Northern Ireland
• River Island Northwich, Cheshire
• River Island Norwich, Norfolk
• River Island Omagh, Northern Ireland (September 22)
• River Island Oxford, Oxfordshire
• River Island Perth, Scotland
• River Island Poole, Dorset
• River Island Rochdale, Greater Manchester
• River Island St Helens, Merseyside
• River Island Southend-on-Sea, Essex
• River Island Stockton On Tees, County Durham
• River Island Surrey Quays, Greater London
• River Island Sutton Coldfield, Warwickshire
• River Island Taunton, Somerset
• River Island Wandsworth, London
• River Island Workington, Cumbria
• River Island Wrexham, Wales