Full listing of all Russell and Bromley shops liable to closing in weeks – is your native listed
High street giant Next has stepped in to acquire luxury footwear retailer Russell & Bromley for £2.5 million after it fell into administration, securing the brand’s name and intellectual property
Russell & Bromley store seen in London famous Oxford street in 2018(Image: LightRocket via Getty Images)
A high Street giant has swooped in to rescue luxury shoe retailer Russell & Bromley from administration in a £2.5 million deal. However, it will only keep three of its 36 stores open.
Consequently, the future of 33 shops, nine concessions, and hundreds of jobs, is left hanging in the balance. The 145-year-old brand’s remaining sites will continue trading for now as administrators hunt for new options.
Next has reportedly acquired luxury footwear business Russell & Bromley from administration in a rescue deal. The company has confirmed it has purchased the beloved Russell & Bromley shoe shop through an insolvency process, securing the brand’s name and intellectual property.
While Russell & Bromley currently operates 36 shops and nine concessions across the UK and Ireland, employing about 440 staff, only three stores, Chelsea, Mayfair, and Bluewater, will be kept open under the new ownership.
Administrators say they are still “exploring options for the other sites, which continue trading,” Sky News reported. Next has also paid £1.3 million for some of Russell & Bromley’s stock, meaning shoppers can expect to see the luxury brand’s shoes appear in Next stores soon.
“This acquisition secures the future of a much-loved British footwear brand,” Next said in a statement. “Next intends to build on this legacy and provide the operational stability and expertise to support Russell & Bromley’s next chapter, allowing it to return to its core mission: the design and curation of world-class, premium footwear and accessories for many years to come.”
Russell & Bromley chief executive Andrew Bromley commented: “Following a strategic review with external advisers, we have taken the difficult decision to sell the Russell & Bromley brand. This is the best route to secure the future for the brand, and we would like to thank our staff, suppliers, partners and customers for their support throughout our history.”
Next has also reportedly snapped up other well-known brands at bargain prices, including Cath Kidston, Joules, and maternity retailer Seraphine. Its growing portfolio further includes Made.com and high street favourite FatFace, Sky News reported.
The following shops, which will continue to trade, were not included in the deal and are at risk:
- Bath, Somerset
- Belfast, Northern Ireland
- Birmingham, West Midlands
- Brent Cross, Greater London
- Brighton, East Sussex
- Brompton, Greater London
- Cambridge, Cambridgeshire
- Canary Wharf, Greater London
- Cheltenham, Gloucestershire
- Chester, Cheshire
- Covent Garden, Greater London
- Edinburgh, City of Edinburgh
- Exeter, Devon
- Glasgow, Glasgow City
- Guildford, Surrey
- Hampstead, Greater London
- Harrogate, North Yorkshire
- Jermyn Street, Greater London
- Leeds, West Yorkshire
- Manchester, Greater Manchester
- Oxford, Oxfordshire
- Paddington, Greater London
- Regent Street, Greater London
- Richmond, Greater London
- Stratford, Greater London
- Westfield White City, Greater London
- Winchester, Hampshire
Outlet stores:
- Ashford, Kent
- Cheshire Oaks, Cheshire
- Gunwharf Quays Portsmouth, Hampshire
- Swindon, Wiltshire
UK concessions
- Fenwicks Canterbury, Kent
- Fenwicks Newcastle, Tyne and Wear
- Fenwicks Kingston, Greater London
- Fenwicks Colchester, Essex
- Fenwicks Bracknell, Berkshire
- Fenwicks Tunbridge Wells, Kent
- Fenwicks York, North Yorkshire
Republic of Ireland stores and concessions
- Dublin Grafton Street, County Dublin
- Kildare, County Kildare
- Arnotts concession, Dublin, County Dublin
- Brown Thomas concession, Cork, County Cork
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