More House of Fraser store closures have been revealed across the UK as shoppers criticise the newly overhauled shop floors for resembling Sports Direct.
House of Fraser’s stores in Exeter and Shrewsbury are reportedly due to close in early 2019, leading to hundreds of job losses.
It is understood that its Exeter branch was not due for closure under the CVA launched earlier this year, and that the building is mostly owned by the retailer, suggesting the closure is not simply due to rent pressures.
Conversely its neighbouring store in Plymouth, which was earmarked for closure before the summer under the CVA, was saved from closure when Sports Direct’s Mike Ashley took over.
Wolverhamton’s Beatties department store, owned by House of Fraser, which was also earmarked for closure is due to continue trading as new rent arrangements were agreed.
Ashley bought House of Fraser out of administration for £90 million in August, vowing at the time to save 80 per cent, or 47 out of 59 stores.
To date 22 stores have been saved from closure, saving around 3,500 jobs.
So Mike Ashley has vowed to turn @houseoffraser into the "Harrods of the high street" and "the biggest and most important thing House of Fraser is missing is luxury brands." The picture is the Reading store which now looks like this, a branch of @SportsDirectUK pic.twitter.com/e4cqIKI0mO
— Neil Thompson (@NeilThompson) October 2, 2018
The news comes as angry customers took to social media to criticise the changes seen in their local stores since the takeover.
Posting pictures of tracksuits with Sports Direct sale labels attached and stacks of trainers, many drew comparisons with the shop floor of its new owner.
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