The stricken department store chain Beales is to close more than half its shops in the latest blow to the UK’s struggling high streets.
The Bournemouth-based retailer collapsed into administration last month, and on Friday it was announced that 12 of its 23 stores would close.
The company, which began trading in Bournemouth in 1881, has about 1,300 employees.
KPMG, the advisory firm handling the administration, said it was in active discussions with interested parties but there was no buyer for the whole chain.
As a result, it was drafting a closure plan for a dozen stores, which would affect about 500 staff. The units on the list include Beales’ flagship store in Bournemouth.
The administrators said stores earmarked for closure would continue to trade, with closing-down sales for about eight weeks. Staff would be retained to help with trading over the coming weeks, KPMG said.
High street closures in 2019
Thousands of high street jobs have been lost in the last 12 months as a result of high profile retail administrations, and thousands more are at risk as Mothercare, Debenhams and Forever 21 prepare for closures. Here are some of the key industry names that have been affected.
Mothercare: Has 79 stores and 2,500 UK retail staff as its British arm prepares to go into administration.
Regis/Supercuts: Had 220 salons and 1,200 staff when it went into administration in October 2019.
Bonmarché: Had 318 stores and 2,887 employees when it went into administration in October 2019. It is still trading as it seeks a buyer.
Watt Brothers: The Scottish department chain had 11 stores and 306 employees when it went into administration in October 2019. All the stores closed and the majority of jobs have gone.
Links of London: With 35 stores and 350 staff, the jewellery chain went into administration on 8 October 2019 but its sites are still trading.
Forever 21: Had three stores and about 290 employees in the UK when it went into administration in September 2019. Stores are staying open in order to clear stock.
Albemarle & Bond: Suddenly shut all its 116 stores in September 2019 with the loss of about 400 jobs, even though it did not call in administrators. It sold its pledge books to rival H&T in the same month.
Karen Millen and Coast: Had 32 stores and 177 concessions, employing 1,100 people, when it went into administration in August 2019. All sites were closed and the vast majority of staff made redundant after the brands were bought out by online specialist Boohoo.com.
Jack Wills: Had about 100 stores and 1,700 staff in the UK when went into administration in August 2019. Bought by Sports Direct and 98 stores are still trading in the UK and Ireland.
Spudulike: Closed all 37 stores with the loss of about 300 jobs when it went into administration in August.
Bathstore: Had 132 stores and 529 staff when it went into administration in June 2019. Homebase bought 44 stores saving 154 jobs and the brand now trades from 28 stores.
Select: Had 180 stores and 2,000 employees when the fashion retailer went into administration in May 2019. In June administrators at advisory firm Quantuma carried out a CVA closing 11 stores with the loss of about 200 jobs.
Debenhams: Had 166 department stores and more than 25,000 employees when went into administration in April 2019. No store closed immediately and the chain is now owned by its lenders but two closed before Christmas with another 20 due to shut in January when the group completes a rescue restructure expected to result in the loss of 1,200 jobs.
Pretty Green: Had 12 stores and about 170 employees when Liam Gallagher’s fashion outlet went into administration in March 2019. All but one store and 33 concessions closed with 100 jobs lost but 67 saved as the brand was bought by JD Sports in April.
Office Outlet: All 94 stores have closed with the loss of 1,170 jobs after the stationery retailer went into administration in March 2019.
LK Bennett: Had 41 stores and 500 employees when it went into administration in March 2019. The brand was bought by its Chinese franchise partner, Rebecca Feng, saving 21 stores, all the group’s concessions and 325 jobs. But more than 100 jobs lost with the closure of 15 stores.
Patisserie Valerie: Had 200 cafes employing nearly 3,000 people when an accounting scandal prompted the chain to call in administrators in January 2019. About 70 of the group’s 200 stores closed immediately with the loss of 900 jobs. About 2,000 jobs were saved when about 100 Patisserie Valerie cafes were rescued by Causeway Capital, more than 20 of which have since closed. 21 Philpotts sandwich shops were bought by AF Blakemore & Son. and four Baker & Spice cafes a were bought by the Department of Coffee & Social Affairs.
Sarah Butler
Beales is the latest victim of the high street downturn that has forced a wave of closures. Its rivals Debenhams and House of Fraser have undergone an emergency financial restructuring, while in recent weeks Mothercare and the toy chain Hawkins Bazaar have closed their UK stores.
Beales was opened by John Elmes Beale under the name Fancy Fair and Oriental House, selling products and novelties that reflected the growing enthusiasm for Chinese and Japanese design.
The original store was bombed in the second world war but rebuilt on the same site on Old Christchurch Road, Bournemouth.
In the 1990s, the chain floated on the stock exchange before returning to private ownership. It expanded to 23 department stores, from the Lake District to Norfolk and the home counties, selling furniture, fashion, toys and cosmetics. However, in December the business put itself up for sale, warning it faced “exceptionally challenging times”.
KPMG said there were no plans to close the remaining 11 stores. They would “continue to operate as usual until an outcome with regards to a sale of the business is clarified”, the administrators said.
The Beales stores that are closing …
Bournemouth
Hexham
Worthing
Tonbridge
Peterborough
Mansfield
Keighley
Perth
Spalding
Wisbech
Bedford
Yeovil
