Debenhams bosses are planning to gradually reopen 120 stores across the UK, despite going into lockdown with 142.
And, yesterday (4/6) it was announced that 50 stores will be reopening when non-essential retail resumes in just under two weeks. The Milton Keynes branch, based at intu, is expected to reopen slightly later on in the week.
As of June 15, the closet Debenhams store to Milton Keynes will be in Luton. Steven Cook, MD of Debenhams, said: “We are delighted to be welcoming customers back to our stores in the coming weeks.
"From the installation of perspex screens at till points to the roll-out of social distancing procedures and PPE, we have been working hard to ensure our colleagues and customers can work and shop with confidence. Our reopening plans follow the successful conclusion of lease negotiations on 120 stores, meaning that the vast majority of our stores will be reopening.”
In April, Debenhams went into administration for the second time this year. Bosses had agreed terms to save 120 stores meaning that 22 stores will not be reopening. 17 of the 22 affected stores have been announced, and bosses are in discussion with landlords about the closure of a further five.
The 50 stores to reopen on June 15 are: Barrow, Bath, Bedford, Blackburn, Blackpool, Bournemouth, Bristol, Bromley, Bury, Bury St Edmunds, Cambridge, Chelmsford, Chester, Chesterfield, Colchester, Hanley, Harrogate, Harrow, Hastings, Hemel, Hereford, Ilford, Ipswich, Leeds, Lichfield, Lincoln, Liverpool, Luton, Mansfield, Meadowhall, Northampton, Norwich, Oxford, Portsmouth, Redditch, Scarborough, Scunthorpe, Sheffield, Staines, Stevenage, Stockport, Taunton, Torquay, Wakefield, Westwood Cross, Weymouth, Winchester, Worcester, Worthing, and York Monks Cross.
