// Debenhams to reopen its 9 remaining stores in Scotland next week
// It reopened its first 6 Scottish stores last week when Scotland exited lockdown
// The vast majority of Debenhams’ stores in Wales, Northern Ireland & England have already reopened
Debenhams has announced that it will reopen all remaining stores in Scotland next week following the successful reopening of an initial six stores.
The department store chain said its stores in Ayr, Dumfries, Dunfermline, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Perth reopened on June 29, the date non-essential retailers in Scotland were able to begin exiting lockdown.
On July 13, Debenham’s remaining stores in Scotland, located in Aberdeen, Dundee, East Kilbride, Falkirk, Inverness, Leith, Livingston, Silverburn and Stirling, will reopen.
READ MORE:
- Debenhams to reopen Welsh & Scottish stores after “successful” English reopenings
- Debenhams reopens another 38 stores after initial 50 on Monday
- 3 more Debenhams stores will not reopen after lockdown
Debenhams has already reopened the vast majority of its stores in Northern Ireland, Wales and England.
The retailer said the reopening of its remaining Scottish stores next week will take the total of a reopened Debenhams stores to 124.
“We are delighted to welcome back our Scottish customers as we reopen the final group of stores in Scotland next week,” Debenhams retail director Susan Reid said.
“We are able in our stores to accommodate two-metre social distancing comfortably, and we have equipped our colleagues with visors as well as screening off our tills.
“This underscores our commitment to the safety and wellbeing of our customers and colleagues whilst ensuring their comfort and convenience is maintained.”
Before the coronavirus pandemic gripped the UK in March, Debenhams operated from around 144 stores.
The subsequent lockdown prompted Debenhams to file for a “light touch” administration in April – the second time it has pursued that insolvency process within a year – and since then it has confirmed that 20 stores would not reopen.
Debenhams never provided exact figures on how many jobs were affected by the store closures, but various reports suggest it could be in the thousands.
The administration process has also led to scores of job cuts in Debenhams’ head office functions.
Click here to sign up to Retail Gazette’s free daily email newsletter
