Beales department stores shut down amid coronavirus crisis

One of Britain’s oldest department retailers will close its stores for good on Thursday, administrators have announced.

The early closures will come two weeks ahead of schedule with the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the retail sector being partly to blame.

The administrators say that the fallout from Covid-19 has meant that “trading can no longer be supported”.

Beales department store, which has been on the high street for 139-years, fell into administration after a disappointing Christmas period.

The company’s store on St John’s Street in Perth, which opened in 2016, will now be among those closed for good.

Joint administrators, Will Wright and Steve Absolom from KPMG, have confirmed that all remaining Beales stores, including the company’s store on St John’s Street, Perth, will close for good on Thursday.

Beales on St John’s Street opened in 2016 after McEwans, who had been operating from the site since 1868, went into administration.

The company, who sell a range of furniture, fashion, toys and cosmetics, employed over 1000 workers in the UK.

Staff will continue to work until the close of business on March 21 to help box-up residual stock and assist with various other closure issues.

The majority will then be made redundant.

Will Wright, partner at KPMG and joint administrator, said: “Whilst it is regrettable that we have had to take this decision, especially given the fantastic support that the staff have provided to the business and the administrators since our appointment, the impact of these unprecedented circumstances has left us with no alternative option.

“We will be working with employees to ensure they have all the necessary information to submit claims to the Redundancy Payments Service, together with details of who to contact for any help and support they may require.”

Beales currently have 19 remaining stores throughout the UK,