Closing date looms for final Debenhams stores
AFTER nearly 250 years the last Debenhams stores will close next Saturday, leaving a gaping hole on high streets across Britain.
The department store chain collapsed at the end of last year, with the closure of all its stores confirmed after Boohoo agreed to only buy its website and brand in a £55 million rescue deal.
The group had already confirmed that 52 of its remaining 101 stores will shut on Saturday May 8.
It said the remaining 49 stores will shut for good on Wednesday, May 12 and Saturday, May 15 following its liquidation.
The stores in Bath, Gloucester and Hereford will close on May 12 and Bristol on May 15.
Debenhams will offer up to 80% off all fashion and home goods and up to 70% off beauty and fragrance products.
A Debenhams spokesman said: “We are now heading into the final days of our closing down sale and this is the very last chance for our customers to take advantage of some incredible deals.
“With up to 80% off across our remaining stores, customers are urged to shop now while stocks last.
“Over the next 10 days, Debenhams will close its doors on the high street for the final time in its 242year history.
“Our sincere thanks go out to all of our colleagues and customers who have joined us on this journey.
“We hope to see you all one last time in stores before we say a final goodbye to the UK high street.”
The Bristol store was one of the first of the modern shops to open in Bristol’s Broadmead shopping area.
When it was completed in 1957, it was home to Jones and Co and traded under that name until 1972 when Debenhams took over.
The distinctive facade of the store features a glass front rising its entire five-storey height, showing off the store’s criss-crossing escalators. The new escalator was unveiled in June 1987 and was claimed to be the longest of its kind in Europe.
A former staff member said: “Many shoppers were a bit scared to use them at first as you looked straight out of the plate glass windows over Broadmead. Some people even got vertigo and insisted on using the stairs.”