Major UK accessories brand Radley is set to disappear from UK high streets by the end of the month. The retail store was bought out of administration by Poundland owner Gordon Brothers in May, but the deal did not include Radley's retail operating business.
At the time, 42 roles were made redundant with immediate effect, but more are expected as all of Radley's retail shops, which include two main stores and 19 concessions, will close by the end of the month. Radley's website closed at 11:59 last night, and its retail shops will remain open with limited stock, holding closing-down sales with prices cut by up to 70%, according to retail-week.com.
Background and administration
The handbag chain was founded by Australian designer Lowell Harder in London when it operated as a stall in Camden Market during the 1990s, and was owned by private equity firm Freshstream before being sold to Gordon Brothers.
A spokesperson for administrators FTI Consulting said in May: 'The administration team will guide and support affected team members over the coming weeks through the redundancy claims process.'
'The administration appointments follow a sustained period of challenging economic conditions for the retail environment, including declining customer demand and increasing operating costs, all of which have had a negative impact on trading.'
Full list of closing stores
All Radley branches, including its two flagship stores in Glasgow and London's Covent Garden as well as its 19 outlet branches, are expected to close by the end of the month. The full list includes:
- Covent Garden
- Glasgow
- Ashford (Outlet)
- Banbridge (Outlet)
- Braintree (Outlet)
- Bridgend (Outlet)
- Cannock (Outlet)
- Castleford (Outlet)
- Cheshire Oaks (Outlet)
- Cotswolds (Outlet)
- Dalton Park (Outlet)
- Doncaster (Outlet)
- Gretna (Outlet)
- Gunwharf Quays (Outlet)
- Livingston (Outlet)
- Mansfield (Outlet)
- O2 London (Outlet)
- Springfield (Outlet)
- Somerset (Outlet)
- Swindon (Outlet)
- York (Outlet)
Wider retail closures
Radley's closures will come around the same time as Beefeater and Brewers Fayre restaurants close 200 locations across the UK on September 11. The news also comes as Morrisons announces plans to shut 100 of its Daily convenience stores this year, while charity the British Heart Foundation has confirmed it'll be closing down 87 stores, with plans to shut dozens more by 2028.
