Sussex High Streets Hit by January 2026 Shop Closures as Major Retailers Pull Back

Several Sussex high street stores are set to close in January 2026 as part of a wider wave of UK retail shutdowns affecting well-known national chains. Rising operating costs, weaker consumer spending and a continued shift towards online shopping have been cited as key factors behind the closures. Sussex Stores Confirmed to Close: In Brighton, […]

Several Sussex high street stores are set to close in January 2026 as part of a wider wave of UK retail shutdowns affecting well-known national chains. Rising operating costs, weaker consumer spending and a continued shift towards online shopping have been cited as key factors behind the closures.

Sussex Stores Confirmed to Close: In Brighton, two prominent retailers are among those confirmed to shut their doors. A Poundland branch in the city is scheduled to close at the end of December 2025, effectively forming part of the January 2026 closure programme. The discount retailer has been reviewing its estate nationwide, with a number of stores identified as no longer commercially viable.

Also in Brighton, fashion chain River Island will close its store in January 2026 as part of a significant national downsizing exercise. The company is reducing its physical footprint across the UK, focusing instead on online sales and a smaller number of flagship locations.

In Bexhill-on-Sea, a Poundland store is due to close in early January 2026. The closure will leave a noticeable gap on the town’s high street and adds to concerns about declining retail choice in smaller coastal towns.
Impact on Local Communities

The loss of these stores is expected to have a knock-on effect on footfall in Sussex town centres, particularly during traditionally quieter winter months. As well as reducing shopping options for residents, closures can impact nearby businesses that rely on passing trade.

Retail analysts continue to warn that further closures are likely throughout 2026 as companies respond to higher rents, energy costs and staffing pressures. Local councils and business groups are increasingly being urged to rethink how high streets are used, with more emphasis on leisure, services and independent businesses.

or now, Sussex shoppers face the reality of fewer familiar names on the high street as the retail sector undergoes one of its most significant transformations in decades.