Date confirmed for closing of Southend's Debenhams store

The retailer has temporarily reopened 97 of its shops after lockdown and is hosting a closing down sale after the business went into liquidation last year.

Bosses said earlier this month that all stores reopening would be closing for good no later than May 15.

But the retailer has now announced dozens of shops will close before that date, including the one at the Royals Shopping Centre in Southend.

It will close its doors for good from May 8.

No announcement has yet been made on whether the Basildon store will close before the May 15 deadline.

Read more:

• Trial launches in south Essex which will see mini banks set up in post office
• Shop worker threatened during robbery - police confirm

The closing down sale saw large queues form outside both Debenhams stores in Basildon and Southend when they first reopened on April 12.

The sale is offering up to 70 per cent off fashion and home products, and up to 50 per cent off beauty and fragrance lines.

Online fashion firm Boohoo acquired all intellectual property assets of Debenhams from its joint administrators in January.

However, the £55million takeover did not include the purchase of the shops which has led to the decision to close all stores throughout the UK.