Russell & Bromley has closed all 33 of its remaining high street stores after collapsing into administration, with the majority of jobs lost – the footwear firm once employed 320 people
A renowned British footwear chain has shuttered all of its 33 remaining high street outlets permanently, with administrators confirming the “majority” of positions have been axed.
Russell & Bromley was snapped up after tumbling into administration earlier this year. Buyers Interpath informed Drapers that the staged closure of the retailer’s remaining specialist outlets is “now complete”.
The final store shutdowns are understood to have occurred last week on April 23, after reports of the initial 10 closures on April 21. Prior to the shutdowns, Russell & Bromley had 320 staff working across its outlets, although Interpath has yet to reveal how many workers left the company before facing redundancy.
The joint administrators stated to Drapers: “All stores that did not transfer to Next as part of that transaction closed on or before 23 April 2026. Regrettably, these closures mean that the majority of employees working in the nontransferring stores have been made redundant.
“The administrators and their teams are engaging closely with all affected staff and will be providing support throughout the process, including assisting individuals in submitting claims to the redundancy payments service. The administrators continue to oversee the winddown of the remaining parts of the business and will provide further updates as appropriate.”
The downfall really started off around 2017, when profits tanked by over 50%. While they were still a status symbol, the shift to casual trainers and online shopping hit them hard.
The pandemic was the final straw. Since people weren’t buying “occasion” shoes or work heels – because nobody was going out or working – they haven’t made a profit since 2019. Despite a bit of a reboot attempt in 2025 using to look younger and cooler, the debt became too much.
The brand’s biggest “celebrity” endorsement is the British Royal Family – specifically the Princess of Wales. Kate Middleton has worn their shoes for over a decade, famously popularising the “Xpresso” flats and “100Point” pumps.
Queen Camilla and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, are also frequent customers, often spotted in the brand’s signature “Dressage” knee-high boots.
Historically, the company avoided flashy ambassadors, but they recently shifted gears. In late 2025, they named actress Billie Piper as their first-ever celebrity face. She fronted a major campaign designed to give the 150-year-old brand a cooler, “rebellious” edge to attract younger shoppers.
Other high-profile fans include Jenna Coleman and Meghan Markle, who used the brand frequently during her time in the UK.
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