Debenhams announces final closing dates for Sheffield and Meadowhall stores

A spokesman for the administrators said the shops on The Moor and at Meadowhall were among the 45 remaining stores.

The final closing dates will be announced early next week, he added.

The shops are offering discounts of up to 80 per cent to sell off all the stock to raise as much money as possible for creditors.

The 242-year-old retailer had been in and out of administration before FRP Advisory announced in December rescue talks had failed and it planned to wind the company down and sell off all the stock.

The permanent closure date was planned to be in the first quarter of this year but was pushed back due to lockdown three in January.

In February online retailer Boohoo bought the Debenhams brand for £55m. At that point the administrators said all 118 stores would close and 12,000 staff would be made redundant.

Shops reopened in April to sell off stock.

Now, some 16 will close for good on May 2, with a further 11 on May 4 and 25 on May 8.

For its final closing down sale, Debenhams said its stores ahd been made Covid-secure, with hygiene and social distancing measures in place.

In February, Meadowhall co-owner British Land said its £150m extension plan was still on despite the looming loss of Debenhams and three other large stores: a combined TopShop and TopMan, a Miss Selfridge and a combined Dorothy Perkins and Burton.

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Thank you. Nancy Fielder, editor.