Re-opening announced for historic South West department store

An iconic department store which closed last month after trading for more than 200 years is to reopen next year.

Jolly’s, a fixture in Bath since 1823 and one of the oldest shops of its kind in Europe, is to become part of the Morleys Stores chain.

Morleys, which operates eight stores in and around London, said the re-opened Jolly’s would be “an aspirational shopping destination that perfectly suits its prestigious Bath location”.

The Milsom Street store will open in two phases – an initial launch in March next year followed by a full completion and grand opening in October in time for the key Christmas trading period.

Morleys and Bath & North East Somerset Council, which owns the site, today said they would immediately begin a major refurbishment and restoration of the historic building with the goal of restoring it to its former glory.

Just under 100 staff were made redundant when the shop, run by House of Fraser since the 1970s, pulled up the shutters on 22 February.

It originally opened as a seasonal store in the 1820s. By 1830 it had become a permanent shop, going on to become one of Bath’s leading retailers much loved by successive generations.

Morleys said today it aimed to re-establish Jolly’s as a “must-visit retail destination”, celebrating its rich heritage and offering the best in fashion, beauty and home while also recognising Bath’s status as a thriving tourist city.

The new-look store will also feature a full-service beauty department and a food and beverage offering.

Ahead of the reopening, a dedicated heritage space will showcase the store’s rich history and future, giving the public a chance to view the plans, get renovation updates and learn more about Morleys. This will be overseen by former Jolly’s store manager Jess Merritt-John, who has been retained by Morleys.

Allan Winstanley, chief executive of Morleys Department Stores, said Jolly’s reopening was exciting news against a backdrop of negative retail stories, as well as a huge boost for Bath and a much needed and positive demonstration of investment and growth from a UK department store business.

“We are thrilled to be bringing Jolly’s back to life and to be part of the vibrant retail landscape in Bath,” he added.

Our approach is to treat each of our stores as a unique independent department store, ensuring we create an exceptional shopping experience tailored to the local community.

“We are especially pleased to confirm that we will be keeping the Jolly’s name, honouring its deep-rooted legacy in the city.”

Bath & North East Somerset Council has been working behind the scenes to secure the future of store.

Leader Kevin Guy said the council was thrilled with Morleys’ investment and plans for Jolly’s.

“Morleys Stores will bring an exciting shopping experience to residents and visitors alike and I am delighted to welcome the business to our vibrant city,” he added.

“Milsom Street has always been a very special shopping destination and Morleys’ decision complements the investment the council is making in the Milsom Quarter.”

The council, which was given no prior warning of Jolly’s closure, said a significant element of the plan was to make Jolly’s once again the anchor store for Milsom Street.

Cabinet member for Resources Mark Elliott said: “We set out the council’s commitment to the local economy in our 10-year economic strategy and this investment is a very positive recognition of the great retail offer our city has and the work the council has undertaken to support it.”

Morleys’ portfolio includes Elys in Wimbledon, Morleys in Brixton, Pearsons in Enfield and Camp Hopson in Newbury.

Last April the group, which has been trading since 1927, opened a new 20,000 sq ft home store in Newbury, next to its main department store.

The group has invested significantly in its estate in recent years including a £3m refurbishment to Morleys in Brixton in 2022 and a further £3m planned next year for Pearsons in Enfield.