![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MKLN6YAN5DZEOI56UOPG56ZXNU.jpg?smart=true&auth=08013054436ccf497f61b001ca71f26086e6a940c543102a471b0aaac95b54d3&width=400&height=225)
A Pippa Middleton look-a-like launches a dress at Debenhams inspired by Pippa Middleton's Royal Wedding Bridesmaid dress in 2011. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/CRBLXCZEFYIWAVTE7YR77ZBC44.jpg?smart=true&auth=3e797bf9c8f00a09592c63c4678a1b4b3a6ff4cc08409d0fa44a98c6a8f511ac&width=400&height=225)
A boarded-up Oxford Street branch of the department store Debenhams in April 2020. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/74LPZ6EX6H5VUZNFE3TW2DGRUE.jpg?smart=true&auth=8fff17b4ee47479b260a63e2356ad850239d2c71f837ea55c1f01da0c3fa51ca&width=400&height=225)
Customers rush into Debenhams department store as the doors open for its sale
in 1978. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/K62LHNCSBI3Z57V3V4TLWWQAFA.jpg?smart=true&auth=6d4b4605ca7d65ac6e4ae04b9fb498bd73787ef8fc3a4def093a708c65c385a7&width=400&height=225)
Crowds on the pavement outside Debenhams department store wait for the sale to begin in 1978. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JP3OG7M4LS5PPGE577XIOOCQLM.jpg?smart=true&auth=35e84c6305ed1d44f3d0353b14d923290697662ad5da05e8c01f515650e21a9d&width=400&height=225)
Santa Claus in his grotto at Debenhams department store with children gathered around in 1978. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/VWY7QNTLPCJ3KLSQTDKDF2Q7Q4.jpg?smart=true&auth=56c141c8f72574d4a8e74f46911c630e5a6755827c9c3370c07bb5d20e5ac574&width=400&height=225)
Shoppers running through the door of a Debenhams department store at the beginning of the sales season in 1980. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/S5XIY4T7C5O64IXR7IN7TWE5MY.jpg?smart=true&auth=e456ece556d1300488e5b4271af6d0ecf9ee9c25b6dea0e2099e199ffb1d2d82&width=400&height=225)
Brazilian footballer Pele greeting fans in the Oxford Street Debenhams store in 1981. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/7UQW6X5NCHVDD3ZAWUFOK22YMY.jpg?smart=true&auth=7cd195be1fa3cfb590661561db296bac0a25eeab0ccfc457e34e1034d2ecf813&width=400&height=225)
Bucks Fizz singers Cheryl Baker and Shelley Preston, posing in the mouth of a Lego dinosaur, in Debenhams department store in Croydon in 1985. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QRMYHM3ZXKUMOPU7RL6MCWF4GU.jpg?smart=true&auth=77ec22f252cc8a1dffa95747d63e1385c7a90e3ca9f884798c59a005000367dd&width=400&height=225)
Pop group Westlife flick the switch at the annual ceremony turning on the Oxford Street Christmas Lights, at Debenhams Oxford Street in 2005. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/D4LX5W6AK2RGPP6UHEHCIBR6CE.jpg?smart=true&auth=5bc4397f34c398c9bbe6fd39c78a8d3c49552c16ccbe6b389ebc5cc08562ac96&width=400&height=225)
Debenhams on London's Oxford Street in the run-up to Christmas 2007. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/DFYJV3A2LELU3E2JWKZQY3IZAU.jpg?smart=true&auth=d84bdf62ee727ed788c793c75f61395cf8e30d657712b9a863f37ef904066a66&width=400&height=225)
Bear Grylls poses in a Debenhams shop window to launch an initiative in 2009. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MKLN6YAN5DZEOI56UOPG56ZXNU.jpg?smart=true&auth=08013054436ccf497f61b001ca71f26086e6a940c543102a471b0aaac95b54d3&width=400&height=225)
A Pippa Middleton look-a-like launches a dress at Debenhams inspired by Pippa Middleton's Royal Wedding Bridesmaid dress in 2011. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/CRBLXCZEFYIWAVTE7YR77ZBC44.jpg?smart=true&auth=3e797bf9c8f00a09592c63c4678a1b4b3a6ff4cc08409d0fa44a98c6a8f511ac&width=400&height=225)
A boarded-up Oxford Street branch of the department store Debenhams in April 2020. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/74LPZ6EX6H5VUZNFE3TW2DGRUE.jpg?smart=true&auth=8fff17b4ee47479b260a63e2356ad850239d2c71f837ea55c1f01da0c3fa51ca&width=400&height=225)
Customers rush into Debenhams department store as the doors open for its sale
in 1978. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/K62LHNCSBI3Z57V3V4TLWWQAFA.jpg?smart=true&auth=6d4b4605ca7d65ac6e4ae04b9fb498bd73787ef8fc3a4def093a708c65c385a7&width=400&height=225)
Crowds on the pavement outside Debenhams department store wait for the sale to begin in 1978. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JP3OG7M4LS5PPGE577XIOOCQLM.jpg?smart=true&auth=35e84c6305ed1d44f3d0353b14d923290697662ad5da05e8c01f515650e21a9d&width=400&height=225)
Santa Claus in his grotto at Debenhams department store with children gathered around in 1978. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/VWY7QNTLPCJ3KLSQTDKDF2Q7Q4.jpg?smart=true&auth=56c141c8f72574d4a8e74f46911c630e5a6755827c9c3370c07bb5d20e5ac574&width=400&height=225)
Shoppers running through the door of a Debenhams department store at the beginning of the sales season in 1980. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/S5XIY4T7C5O64IXR7IN7TWE5MY.jpg?smart=true&auth=e456ece556d1300488e5b4271af6d0ecf9ee9c25b6dea0e2099e199ffb1d2d82&width=400&height=225)
Brazilian footballer Pele greeting fans in the Oxford Street Debenhams store in 1981. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/7UQW6X5NCHVDD3ZAWUFOK22YMY.jpg?smart=true&auth=7cd195be1fa3cfb590661561db296bac0a25eeab0ccfc457e34e1034d2ecf813&width=400&height=225)
Bucks Fizz singers Cheryl Baker and Shelley Preston, posing in the mouth of a Lego dinosaur, in Debenhams department store in Croydon in 1985. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QRMYHM3ZXKUMOPU7RL6MCWF4GU.jpg?smart=true&auth=77ec22f252cc8a1dffa95747d63e1385c7a90e3ca9f884798c59a005000367dd&width=400&height=225)
Pop group Westlife flick the switch at the annual ceremony turning on the Oxford Street Christmas Lights, at Debenhams Oxford Street in 2005. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/D4LX5W6AK2RGPP6UHEHCIBR6CE.jpg?smart=true&auth=5bc4397f34c398c9bbe6fd39c78a8d3c49552c16ccbe6b389ebc5cc08562ac96&width=400&height=225)
Debenhams on London's Oxford Street in the run-up to Christmas 2007. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/DFYJV3A2LELU3E2JWKZQY3IZAU.jpg?smart=true&auth=d84bdf62ee727ed788c793c75f61395cf8e30d657712b9a863f37ef904066a66&width=400&height=225)
Bear Grylls poses in a Debenhams shop window to launch an initiative in 2009. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MKLN6YAN5DZEOI56UOPG56ZXNU.jpg?smart=true&auth=08013054436ccf497f61b001ca71f26086e6a940c543102a471b0aaac95b54d3&width=400&height=225)
A Pippa Middleton look-a-like launches a dress at Debenhams inspired by Pippa Middleton's Royal Wedding Bridesmaid dress in 2011. Getty Images
UK retailer Debenhams to close, putting 12,000 jobs at risk
High street staple will stay open to clear stock at 124 outlets, while Middle East stores will continue operations
![Alice Haine](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2Fe79ea096-d70a-4c7a-8b34-9f28e517d833.png?smart=true&auth=20a56d43f6a47fbaa98d84a82aa0cd7f8c79279600608ce4c3b2a3958f7764b9&width=70&height=70)
Alice Haine
01 December, 2020
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