Department store Debenhams has announced that another five of its UK stores will not reopen following the easing of lockdown.
The retailer said that despite “best efforts” it had been unable to agree terms with shopping centre owner Hammerson to reopen the branches, after falling into administration last month.
It has been reported that the closures may result in about 1,400 job losses across the five branches.
Stores that are due to close are in Birmingham’s Bullring, Croydon’s Centrale shopping centre, Silverburn in Glasgow, High Cross in Leicester, and Reading’s Oracle, the retailer confirmed.
A spokesman for Debenhams said: “We can confirm that despite our best efforts, we have been unable to agree terms with Hammerson on our five stores in its shopping centres, and so they will not be reopening.
“We continue to engage in constructive talks with our landlords and have agreed terms on the vast majority of our stores, which we look forward to reopening when government restrictions allow.
“This is no reflection on the commitment of our colleagues in these stores and we are extremely grateful for their support.”
Last month Debenhams closed seven outlets, resulting in the loss of 422 jobs, though it said it had agreed terms with landlords to continue trading at 120 of its 142 UK stores.
The retailer entered administration on April 9, appointing FRP Advisory to oversee the process, casting a shadow over the future of its 22,000 staff.
At the time the majority of its employees in the UK were being paid under the Government’s furlough scheme.
