Jolly’s to close as Bath’s iconic department store ends an era
Signs in the windows of Jolly’s, one of Europe’s oldest department stores and a key part of Bath’s Milsom Street, have announced its impending closure with a “closing down sale” offering 20% off.
The store, operated by House of Fraser, is expected to shut its doors in February 2025.
The closure follows years of uncertainty for Jolly’s, which survived House of Fraser’s administration in 2018 but has struggled to regain its footing. Bath and North East Somerset Council (BANES), which owns the historic building, stated it was unaware of the current occupier’s plans to close. The council emphasised its commitment to securing a new tenant and highlighted ongoing investment to revitalise the site as the anchor of the Milsom Quarter.
Jolly’s dates back to the 1810s when James Jolly founded a linen drapery in Deal, Kent, and expanded to Bath in 1823. The store became a permanent fixture in 1830 and has been part of House of Fraser since 1971, now under Mike Ashley’s Frasers Group. A 2014 refurbishment revived the Jolly’s brand, but signs in the window suggest this revival may not continue.
The closure comes amid declining retail sales, with clothing stores reporting particularly poor performance. House of Fraser has shuttered several locations in recent years, including its Bristol Cabot Circus store earlier this year, which will be replaced by a Marks & Spencer.
The news comes as the retail landscape faces significant challenges, with several high-profile closures and administrations this year:
- Homebase entered administration in November, with parts sold to The Range and CDS Superstores. However, 49 stores and around 2,000 jobs remain at risk.
- Carpetright collapsed in July, with assets acquired by rival Tapi, but many stores and jobs were left uncertain.
- Smiffys, the fancy dress retailer, was sold to US firm Ad Populum after struggling with reduced demand post-pandemic.
- Ted Baker closed all 46 UK stores by August, leading to over 700 job losses.
- Matches, a luxury fashion retailer, entered administration in March, just three months after being bought by Frasers Group.
- Muji filed for administration in March as part of a wider reorganisation by its parent company.
- Farfetch was sold to South Korea’s Coupang in February via a pre-pack administration deal.
- The Body Shop emerged from administration in September under new ownership led by Mike Jatania.
- Lloyds Pharmacy closed 237 branches in Sainsbury’s supermarkets by June, resulting in approximately 2,000 job losses.
- House of Fraser continued its closures, including its Bluewater, Plymouth, and Lakeside stores this year.
- WHSmith announced the closure of multiple locations.
- Dobbies confirmed it would shut 12 garden centres before Christmas.
The ongoing challenges highlight the precarious state of the UK’s retail sector.
