House of Fraser Hull saved from closure

Staff at House of Fraser Hull received some good news as the festive season gets under as it was revealed that the store had been saved from closure.

The store on Paragon Street, formerly known as Hammonds of Hull, had been due to close its doors for good on Saturday but its new owner Sports Direct and its landlords agreed a last-minute deal to keep it open.

In a statement Sports Direct boss Mike Ashley said: "It is great that the Hull store is getting a second chance and saving over 100 jobs. This is a good example of what can be achieved when everyone pulls together."

Ashley, who acquired House of Fraser from administration in August, has been attempting to save as many of its 59 stores from closure as possible and has stated an ambition to turn the chain into the "Harrods of the High Street".

So far a number of stores have been saved including the flagship store on Oxford Street and the historic Kendals store in Manchester, which, like the Hull branch, was granted a reprieve after Manchester City Council stepped in to help negotiate a deal with Sports Direct and its landlords. Other branches to have been saved include Exeter, Swindon, Glasgow, Telford, Plymouth, Darlington, Carlisle and Middlesbrough.

Stores confirmed to be closing include Cirencester, Edinburgh, Chichester, along with four stores in intu-operated shopping malls nationwide. The fate of a number of other stores remains as yet unknown.