Iconic British fashion chain to disappear from the high street and close ALL its stores 'by the end of this month'

Radley to vanish from high street as final stores prepare to close

Radley, the British accessories brand known for its leather handbags, is shutting down its remaining high street presence in a matter of weeks, bringing an end to a familiar sight on the nation's shopping streets. The brand, which fell into administration in May, is closing its two stand-alone stores and 19 concessions by September, with its website already ceasing online trading.

Shoppers have been descending on stores and the website to take advantage of discounts of up to 70% as the company clears stock. The Sun reported that a handbag previously priced at £159 has been reduced to £39.

The closure ends decades of trading for Radley, which was founded in 1997 and became a popular mid-range fashion statement. The brand is also bidding farewell from its two remaining storefronts—one in Covent Garden, London, and the other in Glasgow—which are expected to close by the end of August. According to Retail Week, the stores will remain open until that time, but a separate report from Drapers says the 19 concessions will continue trading into September.

The Daily Express reported that some stores could close within nine days, as the company's website urged customers to "hurry" to their nearest store, warning that "stores close soon."

The collapse comes three months after Radley first entered administration. In May, the brand and its intellectual property were purchased by Gordon Brothers, the owner of Poundland, in a pre-pack deal. However, the acquisition only covered the intellectual property and global licensing rights—it did not include Radley's UK retail operations, leading to 42 immediate redundancies.

A statement from FTI Consulting, which was handling the administration, attributed the failure to a "sustained period of challenging economic conditions" in the retail sector, including weaker customer demand and rising operational costs.

Financial strain

Radley's financial difficulties have been well documented. For the year to April 26, 2025, the company reported pre-tax losses of £5.5 million, up from £1.7 million the previous year. Turnover also declined, falling from £72 million to £65.8 million.

The brand had been on the block for some time, with previous owner Freshstream, which acquired Radley in 2016, having initiated a sale process. Retail giant Next was among those named as potential buyers before Gordon Brothers stepped in.

Gordon Brothers has signaled its intention to shift Radley toward a wholesale, licensing, and international expansion model, but the brand will no longer have a storefront of its own. This marks the latest chapter in a turbulent period for UK high street retail, with other brands such as Harvey Nichols and Claire's Accessories also facing financial difficulties in recent months.