The iconic 150-year-old shoe retailer fell into administration in January with Next buying the brand but retaining only three stores. The remaining 33 stores and nine concessions are at risk as administrators explore options.
Sophie Law Deputy Editor Spare Time
15:57, 26 Jan 2026
A legendary British footwear retailer with nearly 150 years of high street heritage is facing the potential loss of dozens of outlets this year(Image: Cynthia Shirk via Getty Images)
A legendary British footwear retailer with nearly 150 years of high street heritage is facing the potential loss of dozens of outlets this year. Russell & Bromley, which presently operates 36 stores and nine concessions throughout the UK and Ireland, entered administration in January before being acquired by Next last week in a £2.5million transaction.
Yet, the deal has preserved just three branches – Chelsea, Mayfair and Bluewater. This means flagship locations in cities including Manchester, Birmingham, Glasgow, Newcastle and Bath now face uncertainty as administrators work to “explore options” for the remaining outlets, which continue trading for the time being.
Consequently, the other 33 stores and nine concessions are under threat of closure. Russell & Bromley has approximately 440 staff members.
According to Devon Live, “everything must go” and “store closing down” notices have appeared in the window of the Russell & Bromley branch on Exeter High Street, with 20% discounts available.
Shoppers on Reddit have similarly reported a closing down sale at the Russell & Bromley outlet in Edinburgh’s St James Quarter, reports the Express.
The timing of closures for other branches nationwide remains unclear.
Russell & Bromley employs around 440 people(Image: Getty)
The shutdowns could signal that the brand will transition into Next stores and online platforms instead of maintaining standalone high street premises. Next has paid £1.3million for Russell & Bromley inventory that is anticipated to be sold via its own distribution channels.
In a statement, Next declared: “This acquisition secures the future of a much-loved British footwear brand,” and further expressed its intention 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.”
Andrew Bromley, chief executive of Russell & Bromley, described the sale as a result of a “strategic review with external advisers” and characterised it as a painful but necessary measure.
“We have taken the difficult decision to sell the Russell & Bromley brand,” he stated. “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.”
The Mirror has reached out to Russell & Bromley for comment.
Russell & Bromley stores potentially facing closure
- Bath, Somerset
- Belfast, County Antrim
- 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
- Dublin Grafton Street, County Dublin
- Edinburgh, City of Edinburgh
- Exeter, Devon
- Glasgow, Glasgow City
- Guildford, Surrey
- Hampstead, Greater London
- Harrogate, North Yorkshire
- Jermyn Street, Greater London
- Kildare, County Kildare
- 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
Concessions:
- Arnotts concession, Dublin, County Dublin
- Brown Thomas concession, Cork, County Cork
- 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