Major UK fashion brand plunges into administration - store closure warning
The brand remained 36 years in operation.
A major UK fashion brand has entered administration after being in business for 36 years. British fashion brand LK Bennett has shut down its online shopping, and its website now states that customers can no longer place orders by phone or online.
This means that its stores, including the one in Kingston's Bentall Centre, are under review and could close down. Before closing its e‑commerce operations, the company held a large clearance sale with discounts of up to 80% in both its stores and on its website.
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Founded in London in 1990, LK Bennett established itself as an accessible luxury brand and grew across the UK and abroad through standalone boutiques, department‑store concessions, franchise partners, and online channels.
The label also gained visibility through high‑profile wearers such as the Princess of Wales, reinforcing its place in the premium contemporary fashion market.
The company started the administration process on January 27, 2026 as it sought protection from creditors while exploring restructuring options.
During the process, the LK Bennett brand and intellectual property (IP) were acquired by LKB IP Holdings LLC, an affiliate of Gordon Brothers, a firm known for restructuring and repositioning retail brands, it has been reported.
The deal, however, did not cover the brand’s remaining physical stores — nine standalone shops and 13 concessions — leaving much of its retail presence in a vulnerable position and potentially affecting up to 89 staff members.
It comes after another fashion icon New Look shut down its Carrickfergus branch, in Northern Ireland, on April 15. The retailer closed a total of 51 stores last year; however, the Northern Ireland site is the only closure expected this month.
Other high‑street names are also reducing their presence this year, including supermarket chain Marks & Spencer, which has announced the closure of 14 in‑store cafés across the UK to free up space for additional products.
