Hartlepool’s River Island Among 33 Stores Set to Close in Major High Street Shake-Up
- teessidetoday
- Jun 25
- 3 min read
The store in Hartlepool is one of 33 other stores set to close its doors in January 2026 after the major high street chain becomes the latest victim of the UK's precarious economy..
25th June 2025
Shoppers in Hartlepool will soon be having to say goodbye to yet another familiar name on the high street, as River Island has confirmed its Middleton Grange branch will be closed by January 2026 as the struggling high street chain battles to remain afloat...
The move is part of a wider restructuring plan by the fashion chain, which will see 33 of its 230 UK stores close over the next year.
The decision follows what's claimed to be 'a challenging period' for the family-owned business, which has blamed rising operational costs and the growing shift in consumer habits towards online shopping as key factors behind the shake-up.
River Island, like many other traditional retailers, is said to be responding to broader changes in the retail sector, similar to that suffered by the now ailing Poundland chain. As more shoppers choose to browse and buy online, high street footfall has declined. The company says its current store portfolio now no longer reflects how or where customers shop in 2025.
Ben Lewis, a senior figure at River Island, explained:
"We have a clear strategy to transform the business to ensure its long-term viability. Recent improvements in our fashion offer and in-store shopping experience are already showing very positive results, but it is only with a restructuring plan that we will be able to secure River Island's future."
The restructuring plan includes potential rent reductions at a further 71 locations, and in some cases, stores could transition to zero-rent agreements to remain open, if agreed by those landlords..
What It Means for Jobs
River Island employs around 5,500 people across the UK. Whilst the exact number of roles impacted by the closures has not yet been confirmed, the company says it is working to minimise job losses and redeploy staff where possible, with PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) advisers said to be helping the company identify cost-cutting opportunities and implement the transition.
Store Closures: A National Picture
Branches affected by the closures are spread throughout the UK, including locations in Edinburgh, Doncaster, Norwich, and Middlesbrough. The Hartlepool store also joins this list, which means shoppers here will have just over a year before the local branch ceases trading.
Some of the other locations on the closure list include:
Beckton
Brighton
Gloucester
Kilmarnock
Great Yarmouth
Stockton-on-Tees
St Helens...and many more.
River Island’s changes reflect broader shifts within the UK retail landscape. Rising business rates, energy costs, and changing consumer preferences have pushed many long-standing retailers to rethink how they operate. Whilst these developments are concerning for town centres and local economies, many retailers are using this as opportunities to invest more heavily in digital services, streamlining operations, and attempting to future-proof their brands, however its impact on the high street has been stark...
Hartlepool’s town centre has already seen several other national brands close their doors in recent years & claims already emerging that Poundland could be the next retail store to be under threat. River Island’s departure will likely be felt by is loyal customers and local retail workers alike.
That said, the company claims to be remaining committed to trading in the UK, with improvements already being made to its online platform and selected physical stores.
River Island’s decision to close its Hartlepool store is part of a wider effort to adapt to a fast-changing retail environment. Whilst it’s always disappointing to lose a well-known high street name, the restructuring is said to be intended to safeguard the long-term future of the business— one that's been a staple of British fashion for decades.
However the impact in Hartlepool & other areas on Teesside is likely to be noticeable, as the number of stores on the high street continue to dwindle.
