skip to main content

Sports Direct to close four more House of Fraser stores

Sports Direct said it will close four more House of Fraser department stores after Christmas
Sports Direct said it will close four more House of Fraser department stores after Christmas

Sports Direct plans to close four more House of Fraser department stores after Christmas, having failed to agree terms with landlord Intu Properties, the sportswear retailer said today. 

The four stores are at Lakeside, east of London, Nottingham, Norwich and at the Metrocentre in Gateshead. 

Sports Direct, controlled by retail tycoon Mike Ashley, snapped up the 58-store House of Fraser for £90m in August after it collapsed into administration. 

"We had multiple meetings with Intu, but we were no further forward after 14 weeks," said Ashley. 

"Unfortunately, these stores now face closing in the new year. I urge other institutional landlords to be more proactive to help save the HoF stores in their schemes," he said. 

Sports Direct is now consulting staff on the closures.

In August, Mike Ashley had said he would keep as many House of Fraser stores open as possible. As of last month he had confirmed the future of 22.