Uncertain future for Peacocks and Jaeger in Brighton and Hove

The future of the Peacocks and Jaeger sites in the city was thrown into uncertainty last October when it was discovered that owners, the Edinburgh Woollen Mill Group, were on the brink of collapse.

Peacocks, Jaeger and Edinburgh Woollen Mill, all owned by the organisation, plunged into administration.

Last month, Edinburgh Woollen Mill was saved after a deal was secured to rescue the brand and another of its sister businesses, Ponden Homes, from disappearing for good.

The future of the Peacocks and Jaeger stores in Brighton and Hove is uncertain

Administrators at FRP confirmed 246 stores will be saved by Purepay Retail, which is controlled by former owner Philip Day. The deal secures the future for 1,453 workers.

But Peacocks, which is also a sister brand to Edinburgh Woollen Mill, remains in administration.

The clothing chain's shops in London Road, Brighton, and Blatchington Road, Hove, both advertised "closing down sales" shortly before shutting for the third national lockdown.

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Last month, Marks and Spencer agreed a deal to take over Jaeger, another part of Mr Day’s business empire

However, the business did not buy the Jaeger stores, so no jobs are expected to be saved.

The future of the Peacocks and Jaeger stores in Brighton and Hove is uncertain

The Jaeger site in Brighton's Castle Square has been cleared out with its signage removed from the exterior of the store.

The Argus contacted the Edinburgh Woollen Mill group regarding the future of the Peacocks and Jaeger stores in the city. No comment has been provided.

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If these three stores were to close, they would be the latest in a growing list of high street giants to have announced they had shut for good.

Debenhams in Churchill Square will not reopen after lockdown following a deal which saw online fashion retailer Boohoo buy the brand for £55 million.

This means the department store will survive online, but its 118 stores will be shut.

Topshop and Topman in Brighton's Churchill Square shopping centre are set to shut, it has been reported

And, on Monday, it was confirmed that all Topshop, Topman and Miss Selfridge sites across the UK would not be welcoming customers back when coronavirus restrictions were eased.

This also includes a large, flagship store in Brighton's Churchill Square shopping centre.

ASOS sealed the takeover of Topshop, Topman, Miss Selfridge and HIIT from the collapse of the Arcadia retail empire for £265 million.

Asos told investors on Monday morning that it will take on around 300 employees as part of the deal, which will not include any of the brands’ stores.

And an Arcadia spokeswoman confirmed that all Sussex sites would close for good.

New Look in Western Road, Brighton, is to remain shut after the coronavirus lockdown

Also on Monday, a New Look spokeswoman said that the brand's store in Western Road, Brighton, had closed its doors for the last time.

She said: "I can confirm our Brighton store in Western Road has permanently closed.

"We don’t have any further information to share on this."

In recent weeks, the shop has been cleared with all stock and fittings removed from inside the building.