Reliance’s Hamleys Franchising Arm Faces Closure in the UK
Reliance Industries has disclosed that its UK-based step-down subsidiary, Hamleys Franchising Ltd, is facing a voluntary strike-off process that could lead to its dissolution. The development follows an application to remove the company from the United Kingdom’s official company register.
According to reports published on October 29, 2026, the UK Registrar of Companies issued a notice on October 27 after the company’s application for voluntary strike-off. Unless an objection is raised within the prescribed period, the company could be removed from the register and dissolved. Reliance has not publicly specified the reason for the application in its disclosure.
The development relates specifically to Hamleys Franchising Ltd. It should not be interpreted as confirmation that the wider Hamleys toy retail business or all its stores are shutting down.
What Is the UK Strike-Off Process?
A voluntary strike-off is a legal procedure through which an eligible company can seek removal from the official company register. In the UK, the Registrar of Companies publishes a notice to give interested parties, including creditors, an opportunity to raise objections before the company is formally dissolved.
In this case, the first Gazette notice was published on October 27, 2026. The company’s filing history records an application to strike the company off the register dated October 19, 2026.
The notice provides a period of two months for objections or other grounds to be presented against the proposed strike-off. If no valid objection prevents the process from proceeding, the company may be dissolved after the applicable period.
Therefore, the latest development is a formal step towards a possible closure of the legal entity, rather than confirmation that its dissolution has already been completed.
Financial Details of Hamleys Franchising
Hamleys Franchising Ltd reported a turnover of Rs 56.08 crore for calendar year 2025, according to published reports citing company disclosures. Its contribution to Reliance Industries’ consolidated turnover for the financial year 2025 to 2026 was reported at 0.0048 per cent.
The company’s net worth stood at nil as of December 31, 2025, according to the reported filing details.
These figures indicate that the franchising subsidiary accounted for a very small share of Reliance Industries’ consolidated turnover. However, the financial information alone does not establish why the company applied for voluntary strike-off.
Reliance has not publicly explained the commercial or operational reasons behind the application in the disclosures cited in the reports. Any claim that the move was caused by losses, poor performance or a wider restructuring would therefore require further confirmation.
Reliance Acquired Hamleys in 2019
Hamleys is a historic British toy retailer founded in London in 1760. The brand is known internationally for its toy stores and has operated through a combination of retail outlets and franchise arrangements in different markets.
Reliance entered the Hamleys business in 2019, when its retail subsidiary Reliance Brands acquired Hamleys Global Holdings from Hong Kong-based C Banner International Holdings. The transaction was valued at approximately 67.96 million pounds, or around Rs 620 crore at the time.
The acquisition marked Reliance’s expansion into the international toy retail market. The group has since operated the Hamleys brand through its retail and franchise network.
The latest UK filing concerns Hamleys Franchising Ltd, a specific corporate entity within the broader business structure. The available disclosure does not establish that the proposed strike-off will automatically affect every Hamleys outlet, franchise agreement or retail operation.
What Does This Mean for Hamleys Stores?
The distinction between a franchising subsidiary and the wider retail brand is important. A company can apply to be struck off the register without that action necessarily meaning that every business operating under the same brand is closing.
The filing does not, by itself, announce the closure of Hamleys’ flagship store in London, its other UK retail locations or its international franchise outlets. It also does not confirm that all existing franchise agreements will be terminated.
The consequences for the wider Hamleys business, if any, will depend on the role of Hamleys Franchising Ltd within the group’s current corporate and operational structure. The available reports do not provide a detailed explanation of that role or describe what arrangements may follow the proposed strike-off.
Further clarification from Reliance or additional company filings may be needed to establish whether the move has any wider operational implications.
What Happens Next?
The next stage depends on the UK company strike-off process. Interested parties have the opportunity to raise objections within the period specified in the Gazette notice. If an objection is accepted or another legal obstacle arises, the process may be delayed or stopped. If the process proceeds without an effective objection, the company may ultimately be dissolved.
Reliance disclosed that it received the relevant intimation on October 28, 2026. The notice was published the previous day.
For now, the confirmed development is that Hamleys Franchising Ltd is subject to a voluntary strike-off process. The reason for the application and any potential impact on the broader Hamleys business remain unconfirmed in the disclosures cited by the reports.
