The future of Bath’s landmark Jolly's store could be agreed in the next ten days.
A decision over the lease of a key city centre shop is to be taken by the leader of Bath and North East Somerset Council, following negotiatons with "several parties" over the last year.
The council has not specified which shop is the subject of the negotiations, or who it has been in discussions with.
But it describes the site as a “key anchor retail unit within Bath city centre” in the Kingsmead ward.
A council paper also states the tenant of the premises went into adminstration in August 2018.
Sports Direct bought the House of Fraser chain - including Jolly's - after it went into adminstration in August last year.
Known locally as Jolly’s, the store’s future has been uncertain since the takeover.
A decision has been put before council leader Dine Romero asking her to “approve the new lease of a retail unit within Bath City Centre.”
The decision is to be made on or after August 3.
A council report says: “The tenant of the subject premises went into Administration in August 2018.
“Since this time the council has been in negotiation with several parties in relation to the granting of a new lease.
“Terms have now been agreed with the successful prospective tenant, subject to the approval of the Cabinet.
“The Council has been advised during the course of these negotiations by the external property adviser Hartnell Taylor Cook (HTC).
“HTC have confirmed that in their opinion the terms agreed (subject to contract) represent the best deal that could have been achieved for a new lease of the subject premises.”
Councillor Richard Samuel, cabinet member for Resources, said: “This is a prospective letting and in order to protect the commercial interests of both the council and tenant we cannot comment about the tenant or the location until such time as a decision has been taken and a lease is completed.”
After taking over House of Fraser, Sports Direct sought to negotiate new terms with the owners of some of its stores.
Back in September 2018, Sports Direct tycoon Mr Ashley, described landlords who refused his new terms as “greedy.”
“I am disappointed that in my opinion a small number of greedy landlords still refuse to be reasonable,” he said.
It is understood that landlords were reluctant to agree to low, or in some cases zero, rents Mr Ashley was demanding.
Sports Direct was expected to announce financial results at 7am Friday morning (July 26) but their publication was delayed.
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