Russell & Bromley is set to open a new store at Westgate Oxford Shopping Centre on September 3, just months after the 153-year-old footwear and accessories chain called in administrators. The reopening marks the beginning of Next's strategy to rebuild the once iconic firm following the closure of stores not included in the pre-pack insolvency deal.
Rescue Deal and Store Closures
High street giant Next rescued the luxury footwear firm earlier this year, paying £2.5m for the brand and £1.3m for its stock. It also acquired three of its 36 stores - Mayfair, Chelsea and Bluewater Shopping Centre. The remaining 33 stores, alongside nine concessions, have since ceased trading, including two standalone stores in Scotland, with one located on Buchanan Street, Glasgow. The final branch to close, in Edinburgh's St James Quarter, permanently closed in July.
Administration and Financial Woes
Russell & Bromley traces its roots to 1873. Following mounting losses, it appointed William Wright and Christopher Pole of Interpath Advisory as joint administrators in January 2026. At the time, the company reportedly owed around £59.3m and had racked up roughly £20m in losses over the previous two years, due to falling footfall, rising operating costs and difficult trading conditions.
Reopening and Future Plans
Westgate Oxford centre director Clare Martin said the shopping destination was “delighted” to have been selected as one of the first locations for the brand’s reopening, indicating further stores could follow. Next now owns Russell & Bromley outright. In March, it was reported that Next was not able to honour any gift cards or loyalty points customers had accumulated, with inquiries directed to administrators at Interpath.
Russell & Bromley, known for its men's and women's footwear, bags and accessories, previously employed 440 staff members across its head office and retail locations. It is one of several struggling retailers bought by Next in recent years, including Joules, Made.com and Cath Kidston.
Karen Millen's Comeback
Fellow luxury high street brand Karen Millen is also making a comeback. The womenswear label will be stocked as concession outlets in stores operated by The Foschini Group (TFG), with the first opening in Leicester's Fosse Park on Friday (August 14), followed by Aberdeen's Union Square shopping mall on August 17. Each store will stock a curated collection focusing on occasion wear and bestselling pieces, with an emphasis on its forever collection, celebrating “timeless garments” that have become “enduring bestsellers and signature pieces” for the brand. Karen Millen had operated online only since 2019, after collapsing into administration and being bought by the Boohoo Group, later rebranded as the Debenhams Group, in 2018 for £18.2 million.
