Some UK high streets are losing shops and stores at a rapid pace, resulting in boarded-up buildings and closing-down signs. It was a day of sunshine and showers when I visited a historic department store set to shut down on a once-bustling UK city-centre street — and shoppers are devastated.
I spoke to locals out shopping in Plymouth city centre on Thursday, February 5, as the closing date for the iconic House of Fraser looms.“It’s a big piece of Plymouth gone,” said one shopper. “It’s sad.” Another local woman told me the city is “becoming a ghost town. » As well as shoppers being gutted at the loss of the much-loved large shop, 100 people will be losing their job when this House of Fraser closes in March 2026 — it’s a landmark in the city centre.
Some of the staff have worked in the store for 40 — even 50 — years – and finding a job in retail these days is challenging as many high streets are facing shop closures.
I’ve lived in Plymouth for 18 years and watched the city centre change drastically — and sadly, that has included the loss of many great shops. However, when House of Fraser closes, it will feel particularly devastating.
This is partly because it is a landmark store steeped in history, originally known as Dingles, which many locals still refer to it as. But it is also because of its sheer size, which will leave a significant retail hole in the city centre.
Local shopper Neil Rawlins told me: “It’s a big piece of Plymouth gone, just like Debenhams, it’s sad.
“It was Dingles wasn’t it, years ago, I remember standing across there when it [the House of Fraser store] caught fire.”
I also spoke with Aimee Worden about the closure who told me: “I am really upset, it’s a shop I can remember as a child.
“It’s the essence of Christmas, the one shop for everything. I’m really upset to see the back of it, what’s it going to become after that.
“It seems a shame with the location, if it’s not going to be a shop anymore. It’s becoming a ghost town really, it’s a sad day.”
Toufik Benaceur was enjoying a coffee just outside House of Fraser at Caffè Nero, which is currently housed on the ground floor but is also set to close along with the department store.
He said to me: “It’s a shame, for the staff, for everybody, people working here now have got no job. I hope somebody saves it. I’ll miss the Caffè Nero, but I can go to the other one.”
While some shoppers said House of Fraser was “too expensive” for Plymouth, which they described as a “poorer city,” I’m inclined to disagree. The department store has been a popular fixture for decades and a go-to destination for special-occasion purchases over the years.
The Plymouth House of Fraser is a large store over five floors. The ground floor is currently an array of skincare and make-up counters, along with designer bags and an extremely popular Caffe Nero with big windows looking out onto the city centre’s main street, Armada Way.
Menswear is on level one and ladies’ wear on level two. These floors have long been the place to look for quality clothing from several brands, such as Ted Baker, Phase Eight and Barbour, all under one roof.
The fourth floor has been home to the homeware department, but now everything is on sale — and corners of the store are already empty or stacked with naked mannequins, ready for the impending clearance.
On the fifth floor, with far-reaching views towards Cornwall, the House of Fraser cafe, Dingles, has been many a local’s favourite place to meet friends, have a coffee or a bite to eat.
Local woman Blu-Ann Cooves gave me her thoughts on the closure of the cafe. She said: “It’s awful, I love the cafe, I’m in town shopping today and will be up in Dingles (the cafe). Once this is gone it forces you to shop online, it’s such a shame to lose House of Fraser. »
Another local, Kath Cole, who was having a coffee with three friends, told me: “It’s our last department store and it’s getting less and less for anyone to shop for clothes – and we’ll miss this Caffè Nero too.”
