Debenhams announces 19 store closures

Debenhams has announced the closure of 19 of its UK stores, resulting in 660 job losses.  

The department store, which entered administration in April last year, launched its CVA in the same month.

The closures are due to take place during the next fortnight, with stores closing from 11 January, according to a report by The Guardian. 

The store locations which are closing include:

Altrincham, Greater Manchester – 11 January

Birmingham The Fort – 11 January

Kirkcaldy, Fife – 11 January

Walton-on-Thames, Surrey – 11 January

Wandsworth, London – 11 January

Wolverhampton – 11 January

Chatham, Kent – 15 January

Great Yarmouth, Norfolk – 15 January

Slough, Berkshire – 15 January

Stockton-on-Tees, Co Durham – 15 January

Welwyn, Hertfordshire – 15 January

Witney, Oxfordshire – 15 January

Ashford, Kent – 19 January

Canterbury, Kent – 19 January

Eastbourne, East Sussex – 19 January

Folkestone, Kent – 19 January

Southport, Merseyside – 19 January

Southsea, Portsmouth – 19 January

Wimbledon, London – 19 January

Commenting on the closure, CEO Stefaan Vansteenkiste said: “We are working hard to implement the transformation of Debenhams. Despite a challenging retail environment, thanks to our colleagues’ hard work and our investor group’s commitment we are progressing with our turnaround.”

The news follows as Debenhams appointed Abigail Comber as its new chief marketing officer.

Comber will join Debenhams on 7 January. She has previously held positions at British Airways for 24 years.

She said: “I am delighted to be joining Stefaan and the team to help build a successful future for one of the UK’s best-known retail businesses.”