John Lewis & Partners has confirmed that it will permanently close eight of its shops, including two of its full-size department stores.
John Lewis will shutter its two travel hub shops at Heathrow airport and St Pancras International station; four At Home shops in Croydon, Newbury, Swindon and Tamworth; and two of its full-size department stores in Birmingham and Watford.
The Birmingham department store in Grand Central station was opened less than five years ago.
Approximately 1,300 partners have entered consultation as a result of the closures. The retailer says “every effort” will be made to redeploy staff where possible, either through role transfers to Waitrose branches or to the partnership’s online operations.
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