The future of Russell & Bromley’s Scottish stores has been thrown into doubt after High Street giant Next bought the 145-year-old footwear brand out of administration, in a deal that leaves 33 shops and nine concessions at risk of closure across the UK and Ireland.
Russell & Bromley, which currently operates 36 stores and nine concessions and employs around 440 people, will see only three shops retained under the deal – Chelsea, Mayfair and Bluewater – with no Scottish store among them. This means outlets in key Scottish retail locations, including central Edinburgh and Glasgow, are now facing an uncertain future as administrators continue to “explore options” for the remaining sites, which are still trading for now.
In a statement, Next said: “This acquisition secures the future of a much-loved British footwear brand,” adding that it 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.”
For Scottish shoppers, that may increasingly mean finding the label within Next stores rather than on traditional high streets, as the retailer has also paid £1.3m for a tranche of Russell & Bromley stock that is expected to be sold through its own channels.
Andrew Bromley, chief executive of Russell & Bromley, said the sale followed a “strategic review with external advisers” and described it as a painful but necessary step. “We have taken the difficult decision to sell the Russell & Bromley brand,” he said. “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.”
For Scottish staff, the immediate concern is clarity on jobs and timelines, with around 440 roles UK-wide now in limbo as talks continue. Town and city centre advocates warn that the potential loss of Russell & Bromley from Scotland’s prime shopping streets would be another blow to already fragile high street footfall, particularly in destination retail hubs that have pitched themselves on a mix of luxury and mid-market brands.
