House of Fraser to close !

I am lucky enough to live 22 minutes from Oxford Street where HofF, Debenhams and John Lewis are still busy. I also live 15 minutes from Westfield at White City and the newly opened extension is rather empty.

I think that parking costs could have something to do with the demise of the High Street too - the last time I went to a major city to shop was many years ago and the parking cost was £12!

I’m sad to see the death of the high street but department stores are soooo old-fashioned. I’ve never bought a single thing from House of Fraser or Debenhams.
I’ve got good quality classic clothes, all from charity shops.

I buy quite a bit of clothing for my 3 older DGC (to help out) and tend to use NEXT glammanana which I find quite good value . They often have 3for 2 on tee shirts which is a great help too. I buy school skirts and trousers in Asda. When my DD was at work in the city centre ( currently on maternity) she could pop into Primark for all the bits and bobs like socks, tights etc. Which are excellent value for the time they last .

I would love to own a few “classical pieces” maybe a couple of nice skirts, trousers and jackets that can easily be matched with tops and shirts. As you say these really stand the test of time and don’t ever go out of fashion . Maybe the next time they have a sale I might make an effort to have a look .

Gilly When my DDs children where younger she used to buy at Primark for them apart from school uniform she was at one time buying for 3 small boys so it was cost effective for her,since she has returned to work she has used HOF to buy some classic pieces for herself which will stand the test of time as regards to fashion but she has always waited for the sales and managed to pick up some very nice pieces,we will be on the lookout for the closing down sales with interest.

The one nearest me in Gateshead is beautifully modern and seems to attract younger brands ( not that I can afford them, but plenty can) so maybe that’s it’s success .

It’s a shop mainly full of small franchises BlueBelle but it also does some own brand stuff too. The likes of Burberry, Clinique, Clarins, Mulberry, Barbour, Phase Eight (and many many more ) are represented within it .

It has various departments including clothes, shoes, cosmetics, furniture, electrical etc.
A real department store .

I too am a Primark shopper, I want a few items each year which are on trend and cheap! It’s great for stocking up on children’s stuff and I so wish it had been around when I was raising my own 3 DD and was very very skint? clothes were so so expensive and I had to go without a lot of stuff I needed just to make sure the children were clothed and shod! Primark would have been a Godsend
I don’t shop in our local department store which is Debenhams, it’s ok for cosmetics but my MAC makeup lasts ages and I now buy perfume cheaper online! The rest of the store is hot and stuffy, the concessions often have one staff member covering 2 so you hang around hoping the person who is covering will see you and come over. When staff do come over they general seem apathetic especially in the home ware department. I now go to Steamer Trading and online!
Department stores were in decline from the start of the millennium they did not keep up and left a lot of people behind. As someone else said people these days don’t want to start dressing as an “old person” once they hit 50? people want to carry on taking an interest in their clothes and appearance in a way that maybe past generations didn’t do. I remember my late paternal Grandmother (died in the 1970’s) looked like an old lady in her early 60’s whereas my mother’s mum, who I called by her first name as a teenager! Was trendy gran with dyed spikey hair cuts, up to the minute clothing and an addiction to radio 1? while I loved them both I know which I would rather be like ?

All House of Fraser stores in south Wales will go and they still have a decent customer base. It seems these closures are not because of on line shopping, we have been on line shopping for a decade and a half. There are other possibly illegal issues behind this. We are losing other busy stores and our retail parks are going to be redeveloped into residential estates. Something else is behind this

Part of the problem is that councils have allowed so many out of town shopping centres. Of course shoppers go there with free parking. This leads to the doughnut effect of empty and run down high streets. Also business rates and rents are huge. Meanwhile Amazon pay far less in rent and rates, perhaps governments should really make them pay more tax.

I think that Jolly's in Bath is to remain open (jolly good!!) and perhaps the newish H of F in Cabot Circus, Bristol, will stay open (I found it very uninspiring but have not been back for a long time).

Perhaps the rents on some are so high that they are not viable if the stores don't return a good profit.

Weshwife because once the premises are empty they can be demolished for housing or converted into flats.

I used to always rely on M&S for most of my clothes buying.... but they are so stuck in the past . Do they believe that women in their sixties now want to wear the same stuff as our mothers did!? I'm a Next devotee ...and anything throwaway or seasonal I use Primark. It's not gonna last long but who cares ... it's so cheap! John Lewis ( Milton Keynes) is for ALL my white goods...excellent service ...knowledgable staff extremely helpful...and good price range!

Could be wrong here as not 100% awake but I thought I heard the spokesman say this morning that they were hoping to have negotiations with some of the landlords.
I think rents and rates have become more and more expensive and now companies cannot afford to pay them if their revenues are decreasing.
A covered permanent market in a town I know had the site sold to a woman who was living abroad. She very quickly almost doubled the rents and most of the traders closed up. I cannot see the sense in having rents so high people leave and the site is empty and generating no income.

It's sad that the Darlington and Doncaster stores are going but the latter is a very old fashioned building although I usually go in there as I like some of the clothes. Debenhams in our town is a newish store so hoping that won't close and both stores are in Meadowhall and usually busy. Unfortunately I think it's due to the outdated stores in some cases and the huge upkeep costs of them - just awful for the large number of staff employed though.

Never been in one, is it clothes or a bit of everything

I'm relieved to see that Manchester's HoF store, which used to be Kendals and before that, Kendal Milne, is not among the stores destined for closure - yet. It's a Manchester landmark on Deansgate in the city centre. I used to have lunch in the ground floor café when I worked nearby - a good place for people-watching. I wonder if department store companies who site new stores on the outskirts rather than on the high street will fare better. For one thing, the parking is easier and often free.

I think the mistake made by several department stores was going down the franchise route. Each brand had a small space with a minimal selection of styles in a limited size range - and of course the only brands in store were those with franchises. The problem is, also, that people complain about the poor quality of modern clothes, but when a shop does have good quality clothing, complains again that it is too expensive.

I used to shop in East (cries of: it was so expensive) but I have 2 dresses from East, one summer, one winter, both of which I love. I have had both about 5 years and they will probably last another 5. Think of the money I have saved. What is more they always look fresh and up to date.

I now find M&Co a good source of good quality clothing, I have several pairs of trousers form them that I have had for at least three years and are still going strong, also Monsoon, but I have taken to haunting Charity shops for good quality clothes that do not look washed out three months after you have bought them.

I think they must Irenelily our Debenhams is brand new, sells all those brands you mentioned, plus good quality homewear. Very efficient ‘Click & Collect’ Service, instore computers so you can order there and then if your size not in stock, and helpful staff.

We have a small but very pleasant shopping centre. It has M&S - bit disappointing of late, TK Max which some folk think wonderful but I think looks like a jumble sale! A big well arranged Primark but I’m not a fan! A small Next good for grandchildren’s clothes. Outfit which is several stores in one - eg Dorothy Perkins Top Shop etc. Monsoon - only my eldest daughter finds things there! A Select which the young love! But Debenhams is where we all go - so many brands - Collection (their own) Wallis, Maine, Mantaray, John Rocha (beloved of my youngest daughter!) Jasper Conran, Jacques Vert and a couple more I’ve never heard of! It’s always busy. Perhaps stores vary according to where they are!

They took over Beatties in Wolverhampton and in record time turned it from a vibrant, delightful place to shop into a dull, charmless place that was usually empty. Not at all surprised but very sad for the people who will lose their jobs.

I think Debenhams will be next. If our one is anything to go by, the only attractive and well run department is the cosmetics and perfumery on the ground floor which always looks and smells lovely. But, when you go upstairs, the clothes always seem to be on permanent sale, and all the brands and concessions sell the same sort of stuff. It is a hot and bothery type of experience trying to get an outfit, in and out of the changing room and I inevitably give up. I think that perhaps department stores have had their day. I feel sorry for the staff, but House of Fraser closures will not impact my life. I was however really surprised to see that their flagship Oxford Street store is closing, perhaps the extortionate rent and rates there is enough to keep a couple of regional stores open instead.

I seem to be alone in I actual like HoF. We have 2 within 30mins drive, Lakeside and Bluewater. I often find what I am looking for, for myself and gifts for others. Staff are friendly and knowledgeable. Thankfully both these stores are not up for closure (at the moment)

I always thought HoF had delusions of being Harrods

Why Shortlegs? They both sell very similar ranges.

I always thought HoF had delusions of being Harrods.