London, April 24, 2026, 21:06 BST
Russell & Bromley has closed additional UK locations this week, accelerating its ongoing store cull across the well-known footwear chain. Among the latest casualties: the Covent Garden branch is now shuttered. Bath and Harrogate were on the chopping block for April 23, and a Manchester Evening News post reported St Ann’s Square in Manchester would also lock its doors on the same date.
Here’s where things stand: Next picked up Russell & Bromley’s name, IP, and just three stores in January, paying £2.5 million, and spent another £1.3 million for certain stock. The rest—33 stores and nine concessions—didn’t come with the deal.
Companies House now shows Russell & Bromley Limited in administration, with control handed to administrators as part of the UK insolvency procedure. According to Next’s customer notice, the former operator stopped trading once administrators stepped in on Jan. 21. At this point, every store except Mayfair, Chelsea and Bluewater has moved under the administrators’ management.
Andrew Bromley, the chief executive at Russell & Bromley, called the sale the “best route to secure the future for the brand.” Over at Interpath UK, Chief Executive Will Wright said the administrators plan to “continue to trade the remaining portfolio” as they weigh next steps. Interpath
GB News says Exeter, Hampstead, Winchester, Stratford, Birmingham, Jermyn Street, Canary Wharf, plus outlet stores in Swindon, Ashford and Cheshire Oaks have all shut their doors. Closing locations are slashing prices by as much as 90%, but gift cards? Not being accepted anymore, according to the report.
Financial strains mounted. According to TheIndustry.fashion, which reviewed the administrators’ report, Russell & Bromley posted an EBITDA loss of £12.1 million over the 11 months ending November 2025. EBITDA—earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation—serves as a basic snapshot of operating performance, stripping out several expenses.
Next wasted no time shifting the brand onto its platform. Shoppers can now find Russell & Bromley shoes and bags—think trainers, loafers, sandals, boots—directly on Next’s website, all available through its online store.
This lines up with how Next has been operating lately. The retailer’s gone after several British high-street names—FatFace, Joules, Cath Kidston, Seraphine—zeroing in on brand rights and digital reach instead of hanging on to sprawling brick-and-mortar footprints.
Russell & Bromley’s reputation stretches further than just selling shoes. TheStreet pointed out that both Princess of Wales Kate Middleton and Queen Camilla have stepped out in the label. Still, in UK ads, that’s not treated as an official royal endorsement.
Still, cachet only goes so far. Fewer shops mean less presence downtown, and shoppers may balk at buying premium shoes sight unseen. Next faces a test: can legacy brand strength hold up as the store footprint shrinks and the business leans into digital?
London markets were shut as of the dateline. Next shares ended the session on Friday at 13,250 pence, marking a 0.76% gain, Bloomberg data showed.
Shoppers can already see the difference on the high street. Russell & Bromley isn’t losing its name, but what customers remember from the chain is vanishing quickly.
