Doncaster's troubled House of Fraser store given stay of execution against closure

The Baxtergate store was due to shut its doors for good this month – but the company has now confirmed that the store will close on May 31.

However, the Free Press understands that much of the store’s stock has already been cleared and that staff set to lose their jobs have new employment lined up.

The closure will bring to an end an uncertain few years for the shop.

In 2018, the store was one of dozens of House of Fraser outlets earmarked for closure after the firm ran into financial difficulties.

The chain was then taken over by retail magnate Mike Ashley and was given a reprieve with jobs and the store saved.

A number of House of Fraser branches are being turned into high-end luxury goods stores called Frasers, including the branch in Sheffield’s Meadowhall. But Doncaster is not among them.

In September 2018, the store was among a list of 20 House of Fraser stores at which new terms were agreed with landlords, meaning the branch could stay open.

Back then, Mr Ashley, said: "It's great news that we've already rescued approximately half of the stores that were due to close under a CVA announced by the previous owners.

"We continue to hope to save at least 80% of stores. We've showed what we can achieve on the British high street when we work together with landlords.

The Doncaster branch became a House of Fraser discount outlet store in 2008 after trading as department store Binns for several decades.

The retail giant started life back in 1849 as a small drapery shop in Glasgow and during the 1970s rapidly expanded, buying drapers across Scotland, Ireland and England as well as other department stores and Army and Navy stores as well as iconic luxury store Harrods in 1959.

The Doncaster branch opened in the mid-70s on the site of the former Owen and Owen store.

It is the latest in a number of high profile store closures in Doncaster.