Final Beales stores set to shut

Department store chain Beales is preparing to shut its remaining 11 locations after failing to receive any “deliverable offers” for the business. Administrator KPMG said 20 staff have also been made redundant from Beales’ head office in Bournemouth. Beales, which collapsed into administration last month, previously outlined plans to close 12 of its 23 shops. The final stores are expected to trade for around eight weeks while closing-down sales are held. KPMG said that if a sale is not achieved in the meantime, the precise closure date for each store will vary, depending on “trading performance and other factors encountered during the closure process”. Will Wright, joint administrator, said: “We’d like to thank all Beales employees for their wholehearted support and assistance during the administration process. “We understand that the failure to achieve a sale so far will come as disappointing news, but can assure them that we will continue in our efforts to secure some form of positive outcome.” To send feedback, e-mail pui-guan.man@egi.co.uk or tweet @PuiGuanM or @estatesgazette