All excessive road outlets closing in 2026 listed from Primark to River Island
Your local high street could soon be looking bleaker as top retailers pull out of long-established locations across the country – check out our list to see how your town will be hit
Following brutal headwinds for our high streets last year, leading retailers including Primark, River Island, and Poundland will be closing stores across the UK in 2026.
Starbucks, Pizza Hut, and New Look have all already shuttered stores as shoppers count the pennies amid rising inflation while business cost continue to surge.
Lots of businesses have launched restructuring efforts or entered administration. WH Smith and Claire’s are already set to vanish from our high street forever. Now, though, you can expect to find plenty more boarded-up stores on your shopping trips this year, according to this list compiled by Worcester News.
High street stores closing in 2026
River Island
River Island will have shut 33 stores across the UK by the end of January as part of its restructuring plan. River Island currently has over 220 stores across the UK and Ireland, employing around 5,500 people.
But the street fashion chain revealed in August 2025 that it was preparing to close 33 stores as part of a restructuring plan (approved by the High Court). The restructuring plan aims to save River Island from collapsing into administration after a decline in footfall and sales.
Along with the closures, River Island will pay lower rent at a further 71 shops. The full list of River Island stores closing in the UK by the end of January 2026:
- Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire
- Bangor Bloomfield, Northern Ireland
- Barnstaple, Devon
- Beckton, Greater London
- Brighton, East Sussex
- Burton-Upon-Trent, Derbyshire
- Cumbernauld, Scotland
- Didcot, Oxfordshire
- Edinburgh Princes Street, Scotland
- Falkirk, Scotland
- Gloucester, Gloucestershire
- Great Yarmouth, Norfolk
- Grimsby, Lincolnshire
- Hanley, Staffordshire
- Hartlepool, County Durham
- Hereford, Herefordshire
- Kilmarnock, Scotland
- Kirkcaldy, Scotland
- Leeds Birstall Park, West Yorkshire
- Lisburn, Northern Ireland
- Northwich, Cheshire
- Norwich, Norfolk
- Oxford, Oxfordshire
- Perth, Scotland
- Poole, Dorset
- Rochdale, Greater Manchester
- St Helens, Merseyside
- Stockton On Tees, County Durham
- Surrey Quays, Greater London
- Sutton Coldfield, Warwickshire
- Taunton, Somerset
- Workington, Cumbria
- Wrexham, Wales
River Island chief executive Ben Lewis said: “River Island is a much-loved retailer, with a decades-long history on the British high street. However, the well-documented migration of shoppers from the high street to online has left the business with a large portfolio of stores that is no longer aligned to our customers’ needs.
“The sharp rise in the cost of doing business over the last few years has only added to the financial burden.”
Poundland
A further 14 Poundland stores will shut their doors for good in 2026 amid a growing list of closures. Following its takeover by investment firm Gordon Brothers back in June, Poundland announced plans to close 68 shops and two warehouses in the UK, putting 1,300 jobs at risk.
Poundland completed its main store closure programme in September, shutting 57 stores, while placing 11 closures on hold. Since then, over 50 further closures have been revealed due to leases expiring or landlords serving notice.
The budget retailer will have shut more than 100 shops in the UK by early next year since the beginning of the restructuring programme. At the beginning of the process, there were around 800 Poundland stores across the UK.
This number is set to drop to about 650 or 700. The full list of Poundland stores scheduled to close in 2026:
- Bexhill (January 5)
- Ponders End (January 5)
- Kilmarnock (January 5)
- Faversham (January 6)
- Mitcham (January 14)
- Liverpool (January 15)
- Yeovil (January 16)
- Cameron Toll (January 20)
- Nottingham Eastpoint (January 22)
- Lymington (January 23)
- Christchurch (January 23)
- Bristol Avon Meads (January 29)
- Winton (February 6)
- Coatbridge (February 8)
All these Poundland closures are due to leases expiring or landlords serving notice. “Extensive” clearance sales are now underway at the Poundland stores scheduled to close.
Primark
Primark is also set to close one of its UK shops in 2026. Its store in the Orchards Shopping Centre, Dartford, will be closing for good on Saturday (January 3).
A post on local Facebook group, Swanley Gossip Page, shows a sign in the Primark store window announcing the closure. The post reads: “Our Signs are up, the rumours are true Primark Dartford is closing down, our last day will be Saturday 3rd January.
“Thank you so much all for supporting us and all the cards and chocolates we’ve received recently with condolences.”
House of Fraser
House of Fraser will be closing its Plymouth store in March. A sign has appeared in one of the shop’s windows which reads: “House of Fraser.
“This store will be closing in March 2026. Please shop online at www.houseoffraser.co.uk.”
Signs in other windows also announce a closing down sale with discounts on full-priced items.
Trespass
Trespass is scheduled to close its Southampton store, on Above Bar Street, in March. The outdoor wear retailer will close its Southampton shop on March 9, after over 10 years at the city centre location.
Cancer Research
Cancer Research revealed plans in October to close up to 100 stores by April 2027, with 90 of them to shut by May 2026. The charity said the decision to close these stores came “in response to the changing external and retail landscape”.
Its statement added: “We know this news will be difficult for many to hear – but it’s necessary to ensure we spend more on life-saving cancer research.” The closures are expected to increase the financial contribution of the cancer charity to research by about £12.4 million over the next five years.
Chief executive of Cancer Research UK, Michelle Mitchell OBE, said: “I am deeply grateful to our dedicated supporters, volunteers and staff for their role and contribution in beating cancer together. Without action, we predict many of our shops will become unprofitable.
“A smaller, high-performing retail operation will mean we will fund more life-saving cancer research and better serve our customers, staff and volunteers. This news will be difficult. Our decisions have been taken after serious consideration.
“We’re committed to supporting everyone affected by these changes, and will provide clear information and support throughout the process.”
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