Historic Bath Department Store, Jolly’s, Announces Closure After 200 Years

A department store in the city, operational for more than two centuries, is “closing down”. Jolly’s of Bath, recognized as one of Europe’s most venerable department stores, operates under the management of the House of Fraser group. Signs announcing its closure have been displayed in the establishment’s windows. The site is owned by Bath and North East Somerset Council (BANES), which stated that arrangements are at “an advanced stage with a new third-party occupier” potentially assuming control of the building’s operations. The House of Fraser group has been contacted for a statement regarding the exact closure date of the store. This development occurs as sales volumes decreased by 0.7% in October, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), with apparel retailers experiencing a “notably poor” month. Furthermore, House of Fraser ceased operations at its Bristol Cabot Circus location this August, a site slated to be taken over by a Marks and Spencer. A spokesperson for BANES council indicated that for the past six years, the authority has been “working hard to ensure a secure future for this flagship store at the heart of the Milsom Quarter”. They added that “A significant element of the plan is to make Jolly’s once again the anchor store for Milsom Street, and a programme of works, which are already underway, will see significant investment in the building over the coming months.” The spokesperson further stated, “While plans are at an advanced stage with a third-party occupier, the council is not in a position to make a formal statement at this time in relation to its proposals for the future of one of Bath’s most important department stores.”