The future of Bath’s House of Fraser store on Milsom Street, known as Jolly’s, is at risk of closure if a new rental agreement with the building’s landlord, B&NES Council, can’t be reached.
The Jolly’s department store on Milsom Street | © Google 2018
It was reported in national newspapers, including the Guardian, yesterday that three House of Fraser stores; Swindon, Hull and Edinburgh, were to close after Sports Direct owner Mike Ashley failed to agree new terms with landlords.
The store closures come following refused requests to landlords for new lower, or in some cases zero, rents.
The House of Fraser department store chain went into administration in August, but was quickly bought by Sports Direct, as part of a £90 million deal.
In a statement, Mr Ashley said: “We continue to hope to save at least 80 per cent of stores. We’ve shown what we can achieve on the British high street when we work together with landlords.
“I would like to thank those landlords who have helped us to rescue approximately 3,500 jobs at the stores we have saved to date.
“However, I am disappointed that in my opinion a small number of greedy landlords still refuse to be reasonable.
“I am calling on everybody to pull together, including landlords and local authorities, in order to help to save as many House of Fraser stores and jobs as possible.”
Mike Ashley, who also owns Newcastle United, has made a pledge to save around 47 of House of Fraser’s 59 outlets across the country, recently saving its flagship Oxford Street store.
Jolly’s in Bath, which is one of the oldest department stores in Europe, underwent a £4 million refurbishment in 2014. It currently occupies the basement, ground and first floor of the building.
We’ve reached out to Bath & North East Somerset Council for a comment.
