British handbag manufacturer Radley is set to disappear from UK high streets after its purchase by Gordon Brothers earlier in the year.

Investment retail firm Gordon Brothers purchased Radley in May after it was put up for sale by private equity owner Freshstream in a deal intended to transform it into an asset-light licencing and wholesale business.

On Wednesday, the company shut down its website, which now directs people to “hurry to your nearest store” before they close “soon”. The brand’s sale is continuing in its two standalone stores and 19 concessions with reductions of up to 70 per cent on all goods.

The acquisition deal, which took place in light of significant financial headwinds for the company including a £2.2 million loss in 2024-2025, did not include the brand’s physical retail spaces.

At the time, Gordon Brothers head of brands, Tobais Nanda, said “We are thrilled to add another British icon to our global portfolio of brands. Our goal is to invest in Radley and support the company’s next phase of development, expanding the brand’s footprint in the US, UK, Australia and Asia so future generations can experience the best of British craftsmanship.”

Gordon Brothers owns several other brands in the UK, including Poundland, which it acquired for £1 in 2025. On Wednesday, Sky News reported that Gordon Brothers is in talks with advisors around a potential auctioning off of the company in what would be the latest in a series of significant disruptions for the retailer.

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