Store refit plans including champagne bar for Jolly’s are revealed

A champagne bar features in Morleys’ refit plans for the Jolly’s store in Milsom Street in Bath, it has been revealed.

Jolly’s on Milsom Street | Photo © B&NES Council

Since the department store closed in February last year after serving Bath for more than 200 years, extensive restoration work and repairs have been taking place.

Bath & North East Somerset Council owns the site which Morleys Stores will be taking over, keeping the Jolly’s name.

Initial plans would have seen a partial reopening of the store in March of this year but that month Morleys confirmed that the store would fully reopen in October.

Just two months later however, the reopening was pushed back to next March as the work is taking much longer than anticipated.

The scope of the multi-million-pound renovation work currently being undertaken by the council will bring the building up to a standard ready for Morleys Stores to undertake their own internal shop fit of the various departments.

An application seeking listed building consent for the store refit was submitted to the council by Morleys on 20th July.

A report with the application reveals that on the lower ground floor there will be a café, luggage and toys, plus maintenance and plant.

Womenswear, including shoes, handbags, accessories and lingerie, will be on the ground floor along with beauty products, fragrance, cards and books, confectionery – and a champagne bar in Queen Mary’s Dressing Room.

Queen Mary granted her Royal Warrant as ‘Silk Suppliers’ to Jolly’s in 1934. In recognition of her patronage, a grand fitting room was designed and installed solely for her use.

The room is said to be of “significant architectural interest” and previously accommodated part of the womenswear department.

The report says: “This area is envisaged as a focal point in the proposed refurbishment and will be repurposed to accommodate a champagne bar where customers can relax with a drink within the hub of the retail area and enjoy the majesty of the space.”

Moving upstairs, there will be menswear and shoes, kitchenware, fitting rooms, a restaurant, kitchen, toilets and stock and staff rooms on the first floor.

The second floor will accommodate a hair salon, beauty salon, a baby change facility and more toilets.

Morleys’ application for listed building consent also seeks cleaning, repairs and decoration of the shopfronts.

The planning reference is 26/02725/LBA and the last date for any comments is 27th August.

Fully compliant disabled access not possible

The report with the store refit application highlights that whilst the Disabled Discrimination Act calls for a higher level of accessibility into such buildings, the constraints to the Grade II listed store mean that fully compliant access cannot be achieved.

“Jolly’s will provide a foldaway ramp service which allows wheelchair users to negotiate, sometimes with assistance, most of the short flight steps which split the floor levels.

“For areas that are inaccessible by this method (which are few) they will offer personal shopping assistance.”