Ted Baker’s remaining UK stores to close tomorrow

Ted Baker’s remaining 31 stores in the UK are reportedly set to close tomorrow, putting more than 500 jobs at risk.

Sky News reported that talks between Ted Baker’s owner, Authentic Brands, and retail tycoon Mike Ashley’s Frasers Group have stalled, with all stores expected to have shut by the end of Tuesday.

The business behind the fashion brand’s UK shops, No Ordinary Designer Label Limited (NODL), fell into administration in March.

It has since shut 15 shops in the UK, resulting in about 245 staff being made redundant.

Staff working at the remaining stores were told last month that they will lose their jobs when the shops close.

Ted Baker had 46 UK stores and employed around 975 people prior to the insolvency.

Authentic Brands, the US-based firm behind Juicy Couture and Reebok, is still the owner of Ted Baker’s intellectual property.

It was hoping to find a new partner to run the Ted Baker retail and online business in the UK and Europe.

The collapse of the UK stores could mark the end of its position on high streets, after being founded in 1988 by Ray Kelvin and becoming recognised for its patterned and floral clothing.

However, the brand is currently still sold through some department stores and retailers.

The news comes after Authentic Brands named three new licensees for the Ted Baker brand in the US and Canada earlier this month, which it said would "secure its future" in those markets.

It said that United Legwear & Apparel Co (ULAC), BCI Brands and Peerless Clothing are its new "foundational licensing partners" for the North American region.

Here are the locations of stores that will be shut by Tuesday 20 August:

• Ashford
• Bath
• Belfast
• Bluewater
• Braintree
• Brent Cross (London)
• Bridgend
• Cannock
• Cheshire Oaks
• Dublin, Grafton Street
• Gatwick North
• Gatwick South
• Glasgow Buchanan Street
• Gloucester Quays
• Heathrow T2
• Heathrow T3
• Heathrow T4
• Heathrow T5
• Kildare
• Livingston
• Luton
• Manchester Shambles
• O2 Outlet
• Portsmouth
• Regent Street (London)
• Sheffield
• St Pancras (London)
• Stansted
• Swindon
• White City (London)
• York