Next acquires Russell & Bromley brand in pre-pack administration

Russell & Bromley entered administration on 21 January 2026, with its business and assets sold in a pre-pack transaction to Next, as the 147-year-old footwear group moved to preserve the brand amid sustained trading pressures in the retail sector.

Will Wright and Chris Pole of Interpath were appointed joint administrators shortly before completion of the sale and immediately executed a transaction transferring the Russell & Bromley brand and related intellectual property to Next for £2.5 million in cash, alongside a further £1.3 million payment for a portion of the company’s existing stock.

Russell & Bromley operated 36 stores and nine concessions at the time of the administration and employed approximately 440 staff. As part of the transaction, three flagship locations, Oxford Street and King’s Road in London and the Bluewater Shopping Centre in Kent, will continue to operate under licence to Next. The remainder of the estate, comprising 33 stores and nine concessions across the UK and Ireland, was excluded from the sale and continues to trade while options are explored. Retail Realisation has been appointed to manage the sale of stock across those locations.

Founded in 1879, Russell & Bromley is one of the UK’s longest-established footwear retailers. The administration follows a strategic review undertaken by management and advisers, which concluded that a brand-led sale through a pre-pack process offered the best prospect of preserving value in light of ongoing cost pressures and challenging consumer conditions on the high street.

Interpath said the transaction secures the future of the Russell & Bromley brand, while allowing the administrators to focus on maximising recoveries from the remaining assets for the benefit of creditors. Next has stated that it intends to integrate the brand into its wider retail platform, providing operational support and stability as Russell & Bromley transitions into its next phase.