Debenhams closing lots of stores

[StealthPolarBear]

Including the one near us. How awful :(

Personally I'm amazed the Redditch one survived. If that had gone, then the Kingfisher would simply be a shell ...

When I saw the list, it felt like a lot going were in the south of the UK. Not sure if that's significant ?

I’m not surprised Southport is in the list. Horrible shop and i would imagine the location would mean high rates

The thing is, if you take out all the concessions there isn't much left anyway.

Take Liverpool for example, things like warehouse etc all have stand alone stores metres away and then the exact same concessions in the big John Lewis at the other end of L1. The kids clothes are too expensive and the toy section is shit.

The whole department store premise is incredibly dated now too despite a lot of the stores being new/refurbed.

@stealth mine is the Stockton one too and I prefer that one to the Middlesbrough store which is staying. It’s going to leave a big gap at that end of the high street.

Quite surprised Leeds isn't on the list. They can't do too well considering they're competing with a new John Lewis, Harvey Nicks, House of Fraser and the Trinity Centre, and there's another on just outside the city at the White Rose Centre.

I've not bought anything from there in years, so won't miss it if it does go, shops are too disorganised and overwhelming. Sad for the staff obviously.

Quite surprised Leeds isn't on the list. They can't do too well considering they're competing with a new John Lewis, Harvey Nicks, House of Fraser and the Trinity Centre, and there's another on just outside the city at the White Rose Centre.

Alternatively, maybe that's why they're staying ? Plenty of footfall to others stores must have some uplift on turnover ?

I'm thinking this is just a stave of execution for the others though. The thing about olden days, is that they are in the past and unlikely to return. Managed decline might be a better aim.

Iggy I think it's the end of stockton high St tbh :( what's left, a couple of banks? I assume m and s has gone? Tbh I'm part of the problem, as a teen I'd be there twice a week, browsing. Now I dash in for the bare minimum.

I'm surprised Leicester isn't on there. It feels like its closing down already. Big empty spaces, no AC, staff that won't help you etc.

I do think Leicester in general has started a good regeneration programme though. Lots of independents, non retail businesses filling big buildings (crazy golf, climbing, escape rooms etc), big retail units designed to be spacious and easy to shop in instead of cramming lots into a small space - the city centre is always busy. There are still areas they need to work on but its fairing better than many other cities.

And it's probably been in decline sine teesside park was built in 88

I was surprised Northampton wasn't there but glad its not as they lost M&S and it would be bare.

My local one is also closing & I am sad for the staff, but I won't miss it. It's been in decline for some years, low stock, never all the sizes, hazard tape on floors etc.

I wonder what will happen to all the buildings?

My local one is closing. Apparently the building is owned by John Lewis (which has it’s own store opposite) and is restricted on what it can sell, for example no homeware. It only sells clothes and cosmetics, it was a real disappointment to all when it opened a few years ago.

I must admit I never go in there though, I occasionally go to Milton Keynes and never visit Debenhams now and the one there wasn't too bad the last time I went in there. This is just the start though isn't it, M&S were closed in waves iirc.

The days are long gone where you happily wondered around old rambling stores for an hour or two, just randomly looking for clothes to buy. The old buildings are a pain in the neck with multiple floors, nooks & crannies, random side rooms, basements, etc.

These days, we're in a hurry, we want to be in and out quickly, we want easy navigation to go straight to the stuff we're looking for.

Debenhams is just a nightmare - if you just want a pair of jeans, you have to go to several different areas to see what each "brand" is offering. That means half an hour of trudging around, room to room, floor to floor, just for a pair of sodding jeans.

The only store of theirs that I've actually liked and bought a few things was on an out of town retail park (can't remember where), which was just two huge floors, nicely laid out, easy to walk around, easy to see the brands from each other etc. It was heaving, compared with my usual city centre store which is usually very sparse.

My local one is closing, not surprised though it's doesn't get much natural footfall as last shop in shopping centre.
Glad big one in city isn't on list as enjoy wandering round department stores

I'm surprised Southampton isn't on that list! I went in there a month ago and apart from the fact I was just about the only customer, they were really low on stock.

However, the 'centre' of Southampton is constantly changing, and the massive new development of the Bargate area might rejuvenate Debenhams too.

I'm glad Meadowhall is staying open. I like Debenhams, and the Meadowhall one sounds like it is in better nick than some of the ones described on here by other posters.

I will always shops for clothes in real shops rather than online. I have time to shop, I'm not a standard shape and size, I prefer to buy something instantly rather than to and fro with returns, I don't hate shopping, and I will still support people working in retail. Basically I find online shopping for clothes more of a faff than real shopping.

What I do though is look online before I go so I have a good idea of what I am looking for.

I was in the Sunderland one this morning and it was quite busy so glad that's not on the list (for now). I mainly use Debenhams for make up and kid's clothes, it's a long time since I've looked at their clothes or homeware.

I work in one, mine isn’t closing for now but who knows?! It’s the only place I’ve ever worked and I don’t actually know what I’d do if it did, after 18 years I don’t know what else I’d be good at!

The high street as we know it needs to adapt and look at different ways of doing things, we need to make it more appealing to come into store rather than ordering loads at home with the intention of onl keeping one.

I think it's the concessions that have killed department stores. If I want to buy apair of jeans I want them all in one place so I can choose a few & go & try them on, not have to wander from place to place. Samr goes for all other clothing.

The high street as we know it needs to adapt and look at different ways of doing things, we need to make it more appealing to come into store rather than ordering loads at home with the intention of only keeping one.

I think you need to make it more appealing to travel, full stop. But sky high rents and rates, coupled with extortionate parking charges aren't going away anytime soon. And that's before you address the shop than most "just browsing" shopping trips are simply a reminder to buy online in the first place.

Ours was the flagship store in our shopping centre that was built 20 (?) years ago. It's been rubbish for ages. Always pretty deserted and I frequently overhear (when I go in) staff moaning about the management. Which to me seems the senior management of Debenhams fault. The stock is pretty staid. The beauty/perfume counters at the front of the store are mostly only manned on Friday/Saturday and have been before the surge in internet shopping.

I won't miss it but feel bad for the staff losing jobs.

Wigan isn't closing yeah.

Not been for ages but I’m not surprised the one in Canterbury is closing as it cannot compete with Fenwick’s which is a lovely store.

Three are closing near me. The nearest will now be in the next county. It will put the death knell into my local high street as M&S is closing too.

Although, I can't remember the last time I used either store or ventured into the local shopping centre. So, local employment aside, I have no real reason to be upset.