Jolly's department store in Bath to close after 200 years of service

Jolly's department store in Bath will close after 200 years of operation. Owned by Frasers Group since the 1970s, it is one of Europe's oldest department stores. A closing sign has been posted, and all stock is being sold. Bath and Somerset Council, which owns the building, is in talks with a potential new tenant but has not made a formal announcement. Frasers Group is also planning to revamp its House of Fraser stores, leading to more closures. The UK retail sector faces challenges from high inflation and a shift to online shopping. Many stores have closed recently, with over 10,000 shops shutting down in 2023, resulting in significant job losses.