House of Fraser is to shut three stores and is mulling the closure of a fourth after its new owner, Mike Ashley, failed to agree terms with landlords.
The retail chain is set to close its stores in Edinburgh (43,040 sq ft); Hull (188,353 sq ft) and Swindon (107,600 sq ft).
A fourth store in Bath (143,081 sq ft), is also at risk of closure. Ashley is currently negotiating with the city council, the store’s landlord, over new rental terms.
In total, the closure of all four stores would create just under 500,000 sq ft empty space.
Ashley, who bought the troubled chain out of administration in August, blamed “greedy” landlords for the slated closures.
Before administration 31 stores, including the named branches above, had been due to close under a company voluntary arrangement with lenders.
However, several of these House of Fraser stores – including its flagship London Oxford Street store, as well as branches in Camberley and Altrincham – have now been saved from closure as the chain’s new owner renegotiates leases with the landlords.
House of Fraser operates 59 stores across the UK and Ireland.
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