Woo hoo we’ve got a new department store coming

[Crikeyalmighty]

was very sorry when Jolly's closed down in Bath last month after house of Fraser ran it into the ground -.but yep we have a new tenant coming in early 2026 and keeping it as a department store - Morley’s group will be moving in after the council make some big repairs ( they are the landlord) and a refit, they are keeping the jolly’s name too - currently have 7 in London including Brixton and Elys in Wimbledon and one in Newbury - M&S are taking over the old Debenhams too as a flagship store - so will be shop fitting a go go here in Bath later in the year. We are also getting a Gail’s being fitted out at the moment. Good news , hope it really works for them, I think it will !!

That’s good news for the city - I hope it’s a huge success!

I think you meant to post this on your local Facebook page. 🙄

Oh I would LOVE a new department store, or any decent shops to open in my run down town!

As an aside, I read today that Top Shop stores might be returning to the high street and this pleases me. Although I expect the quality will be crap. I used to think of Top Shop as average, high street quality. But when getting bits and bobs from Vinted I notice that it was sooo much better than the rubbish in high street shops now.

@ShaunaSadeki oh that’s interesting given although I’m personally well beyond looking good in the Top shop range at 63!! To be honest given the current climate I just wanted to post the occasional glimmer of good news

I still haven't got over M&S closing in our local town and being replaced by The Range.

@Crikeyalmighty I agree, it is nice to post positive things, this is a chat site after all! Your post made me smile in addition to making me envious. Luckily we don’t have a Gail’s where I live or I would have no hope of getting into Top Shop clothes 😁

I don’t live in Bath or even in the UK but I for one am delighted to read about new shops opening….retail is in such decline.

It is good to post a little bit of good news, of any kind of optimism in the economy, ignore the snarky posters!!

I really hope they are successful and is able to remain open and well used!!

Exactly!!

Thank you lady’s - just wanted to share an occasional ‘glimmer’ and yep I’m going to have to keep in check useage of Gail’s- very partial to their sausage rolls - it’s a very mixed retail picture here, it’s meant to be the most resilient place in the country apparently , but if anything it’s got far too much retail space for shopping as it is today , so like anywhere we have some empty units - and it’s still a struggle for the small independents as it has whopping rents/ business rates and we have a lot of those!! I always think though that even when at maybe 85% capacity here it’s still ok- I went back to my north midlands home town in October last year and couldn’t believe how shit it was as hadn’t been back for 25 years- it was like the Armageddon- whole streets just empty that used to be full of life, markets, pubs and shops- I feel so sorry for anyone in that situation.its blooming depressing. Certainly made me count my blessings- massive rent or not.

Old topshop was great but I think the quality was already long gone before ASOS bought it. I have some really old pieces made of lovely fabrics but mostly its acrylic now

I'm nearby to Bath though and this is great news. I used to live in Brixton and Morleys was a nice shop. Will be great to not lose Jollys. Not so sure about the M&S as I find the current location more convenient than all the way down in Southgate where I rarely go to be honest - but maybe that will change!

Except that Bath is an extremely popular and well-known tourist destination, with around 6 millions visitors annually. 🙄

@madaffodil indeed - and we have enough visitors that I know some would be interested- or interested in the fact that ‘anywhere’ is having a new substantial sized store - we got a huge Zara too 18 months ago !! I’ve got a tough skin to be honest and if anyone is snarky I don’t give a monkeys.

I've also heard "from an inside source " that M&S are moving into the House of Frazer store in Bristol. It will be the first time they have had a presence in central Bristol for years.
Jolly's was a grande dame of department stores with its old fashioned frontage. 200 years it had been there!

I’m really happy to hear this, thanks!!! Love Jolly’s and the whole top of Milton street feel!!

I'm old enough to remember Owen Owen and Mitchell's 😂 glad it's going to be still a dept store

Bathonian here 🥰! I knew this post would be about Jolly’s before I even opened it 😁. It’s fantastic news for the city, and I just hope it is very successful.

Gails is a sign your local high street has died a thousand deaths.

Why?

Happy to hear good news!

I wish towns had the money to invest and reinvent their centres - can’t happen fast enough

@HeartandSeoul waves at you! Yep me too- wonder if they will reopen the cafe - ? My father in law loved it

I had my wedding list at Jolly’s. It was a lovely shop; I hope the new one is just as good.

@MinkyWales yes- was allowed to get into a bit of a mess in last few years that made it feel not so nice. New owners doing a full refurb

I don't live in Bath now but I still pop back from time to time as I love the feeling of the place. Looking forward to visiting the new store when it opens as HofF really was rubbish in later years.

I have two of the Morley’s group nearby Pearsons and Roomes both nice department stores. Sell a nice range including White Stuff and Seasalt both have nice restaurants in fact Pearsons have a coffee shop as well.