Russell & Bromley was 146 — but that wasn't enough to save it from administration

Russell & Bromley was founded in approximately 1879 as an upmarket British footwear and accessories brand. For over 140 years, it was a fixture of the UK high street, known for its premium shoes, handbags and accessories, with 36 standalone stores and 9 concessions across the country.

The brand struggled in a retail environment that shifted decisively online after the pandemic. Foot traffic declined on the high street, while competition from athleisure, sneaker culture and fast fashion squeezed the mid-premium footwear segment. Russell & Bromley had been loss-making in recent years and could not sustain its large store network.

In January 2026, Russell & Bromley entered administration; Interpath was appointed administrator. On 21 January, the High Court approved a pre-pack deal: Next acquired the brand, IP, and three stores — Chelsea, Mayfair and Kent — for £2.5 million plus £1.3 million for stock. The remaining 33 stores and 9 concessions closed. Approximately 400 employees lost their jobs. By April 2026, all non-transferring stores had shut; by July 2026, the final locations closed.

Next bought the name and 3 stores for £3.8M, closed 33 stores, and cut 400 jobs, keeping only the profitable locations.

Russell & Bromley maintained a large physical store network in an era when premium footwear buyers increasingly shopped online — the fixed costs of 36 stores were unsustainable

The brand had been loss-making for years but did not restructure early enough — by the time administration came, the only buyer wanted the brand name, not the stores

The mid-premium segment was squeezed from below by athleisure and fast fashion, and from above by luxury brands investing directly in DTC

As a family-run business for 140+ years, the company lacked the urgency and capital discipline to adapt to structural retail decline

A 140-year brand with expensive stores and no digital-first strategy is a real estate company masquerading as a shoe brand — when the leases run out, so does the business

Next owns the Russell & Bromley brand and three of its best-performing stores. The brand continues as a premium footwear label within the Next portfolio, but at a fraction of its former scale. The 33 closed stores were sold or surrendered to their landlords. Administrators confirmed all non-transferring locations closed by 23 April 2026.