Historic department store's reopening delayed
BBCThe reopening of a 200-year-old department store has been delayed until March 2027.
Jolly's in Bath was one of Europe's longest-running department stores when it closed in February 2024 after the Fraser's group, which ran it, struggled to keep the business going.
The shop will now be run by Morleys Stores as its second site outside of London, and was due to reopen in 2026 following restoration work, but the company said the work had been more complicated than expected.
"From preserving original architectural features to upgrading essential services within centuries-old structures, the project has required time and exceptional care, patience, and craftsmanship," said a Morleys spokesperson.
They added they were "delighted" to confirm the reopening date, calling it a "significant moment for the city and the future of one of the country's most historic department stores".
The site was undergoing "an extensive programme of restoration and redevelopment", with parts of the building dating back more than 250 years, leading to "careful and painstaking conservation work", they explained.
Ray Clacher, Morleys Stores chief executive, said: "Working within a series of interconnected buildings that have evolved over more than two and a half centuries has been both inspiring and incredibly complex.
"Every stage of the project has presented opportunities to protect and celebrate the history of Jolly's while ensuring we create the very best department store possible for the residents of Bath and visitors to the city."
Councillor Mark Elliott, of Bath and North East Somerset Council, which owns the site, said: "The store itself is a really complex building and restoring it to its full potential takes vision and time.
"We look forward to welcoming Morley's new store early next year. It will be a fantastic addition to Milsom Street and our ambitions for the Milsom Quarter."
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