According to a report from administrators at Interpath, heritage footwear retailer Russell & Bromley fell to an EBITDA loss of £12.1 million in the 11 months to November 2025, before entering administration.
The figures, published in the administrators’ Statement of Proposals to Companies House, lay bare the scale of the challenges facing one of Britain’s best-known premium footwear brands before it entered administration on 21 January 2026.
Russell & Bromley Limited, incorporated in 1952 and the principal trading entity within the wider group, operated 41 stores across the UK and employed 440 staff at the time of collapse. The group, whose roots trace back to 1880 in Sussex, had endured a sustained period of losses driven by falling sales, rising operational costs and a relatively high fixed cost base, compounded by difficult UK retail conditions marked by inflationary pressures and weakened consumer demand.
Administrators Will Wright and Chris Pole of Interpath were appointed on 21 January, immediately completing a pre-pack sale of selected assets to Next Retail Limited. The deal included the Russell & Bromley brand and intellectual property, stock across three prime stores in Chelsea, Mayfair and Bluewater, associated leasehold interests and certain warehouse inventory.
The remainder of the estate continues to trade in administration, with Retail Realisation LLP appointed to oversee the stock realisation process across the remaining store network. Administrators expect preferential creditors, including £132,000 owed to employees and £3.2 million due to HMRC, to be paid in full, with a potential dividend also anticipated for unsecured creditors, subject to final asset realisations.
After more than 140 years on the British high street, Russell & Bromley’s future now rests on its new owner and whether the brand can be reshaped for a radically changed retail landscape.
To learn more, read ‘Industry reacts: What’s NEXT for Russell & Bromley’ here.