Fashion giant River Island has confirmed the dates it will permanently close 27 of its stores this month. The high street favourite had previously announced that it would close 33 stores across the UK after its plans for a major restructure were approved by the High Court.

The company has already closed stores in Brighton, Edinburgh Princes Street, Great Yarmouth, and Stockton-on-Tees in the lead up to Christmas. Throughout the next month, 27 stores will close in Scotland, Wales and England as it attempts to navigate heavy pre-tax losses. Ben Lewis, chief executive of River Island, said in a statement earlier this year: “River Island is a much-loved retailer, with a decades-long history on the British high street.

“However, the well-documented migration of shoppers from the high street to online has left the business with a large portfolio of stores that is no longer aligned to our customers’ needs.

“The sharp rise in the cost of doing business over the last few years has only added to the financial burden. We have a clear strategy to transform the business to ensure its long-term viability.

“Recent improvements in our fashion offer and in-store shopping experience are already showing very positive results, but it is only with a restructuring plan that we will be able to see this strategy through and secure River Island’s future as a profitable retail business.

“We regret any job losses as a result of store closures, and we will try to keep these to a minimum.”

River Island is also reducing rents at an additional 71 shops as part of its restructuring. The clothing chain had 223 stores across the UK and Ireland at the time of its rescue plan being heard in court in August this year.

The business posted a £32.3million pre-tax loss last year and revealed turnover had slumped 15% to £578.1million. Matthew Weaver KC, for River Island, told the court hearing that the company “simply has not been able to reverse” a trend of financial difficulty.

He cited a decline in footfall and sales due to “the pressures of a highly competitive and changing retail environment as well as the prevailing trend away from high street retail stores to online shopping”.