Among the 33 River Island branches set to close by January 2026 are key Scottish sites in Edinburgh’s Princes Street, Falkirk, Kirkcaldy, Kilmarnock, Cumbernauld and Perth, removing a familiar fashion name from several town and city centres. For some of these locations, the closures will leave noticeable gaps on prime shopping streets and could reduce the pull that larger brands traditionally provide for surrounding independents.
The timing is sensitive for Scotland, where data for the first half of 2024 show 457 chain outlets shutting and only 335 opening, a net loss of 122 shops and a closure rate on high streets that continues to outpace new arrivals. Retail parks in Scotland have proved more resilient, with a lower closure rate than high streets and shopping centres, suggesting fashion and other retailers are already gravitating towards out‑of‑town formats that can complement online sales more easily.
Online sales and high street decline
River Island has directly linked its downsizing to a shift in customer behaviour, with more shoppers choosing to browse and buy online rather than visit physical stores. This mirrors wider UK trends: by mid‑2024, almost 28% of all retail sales were online, while footfall on high streets and in shopping centres remained 15–20% below pre‑pandemic levels, putting sustained pressure on store‑based business models.
As online sales grow, many national chains face a double squeeze of lower in‑store takings and relatively higher property costs, especially business rates, than online‑only competitors. Analysts warn that without changes to the cost burden on physical shops and fresh investment in town‑centre regeneration, retailers with large estates will continue to close under‑performing sites, reinforcing a cycle of empty units and weaker high streets.
What this means for Scottish high streets
For Scottish communities, the loss of a recognisable fashion anchor like River Island is more than symbolic; it removes a driver of footfall that often benefits cafés, bars and independents located nearby. With net closures in Scotland still running at close to one store per day, further fashion exits risk deepening concerns over vacant units, reduced choice and a hollowing‑out of some town centres.
However, surveys suggest that people in Scotland still place a high value on good‑quality local high streets, even as they use online retail more frequently, which points to an opportunity for policy‑makers and landlords to rethink how space is used. Industry voices argue that a combination of fairer business rates, support for mixed‑use development and better integration between digital and physical retail will be crucial if chains like River Island are to maintain a meaningful presence on Scottish high streets in the years ahead.
