Closure looms for last remaining Debenhams stores

Debenhams in Market Street, Manchester

The remaining Debenhams stores will close for good next week, culminating in around 12,000 job losses.

Debenhams collapsed last December, following two previous administrations, bringing its 242-year history on the high street to an end.

More than 50 stores have already closed, as they sold off their stock following an easing of lockdown measures.

But next week the remaining 49 stores will close their doors for the final time, including 10 around the North West.

The stores closing on May 12 are: Barrow-in-Furness, Blackburn, Carlisle, Chester, Preston, Warrington, while on May 15, stores in Cheshire Oaks, Liverpool, Manchester, and Manchester Trafford Centre will shut.

A Debenhams spokesperson 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.”

While stores in key retail hot spots such as Market Street in Manchester, and the Liverpool One retail centre will disappear, the Debenhams brand will live on, after Manchester-based online retailer Boohoo bought the brand from administrators for £55m in January.

Boohoo is expected to relaunch the brand later this year. It has also acquired the brands of other former high street retailers, such as Dorothy Perkins, Wallis and Burton from the failed Arcadia group.

Chief executive, John Lyttle, said: “Our newly acquired brands are being re-energised and made relevant for today’s consumer across a broader market demographic.

“We are very excited about their potential and are already seeing the early rewards from their growth.”

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