House of Fraser closes high street shop - in UK town for 103 years

A House of Fraser store in a UK town is set to close its doors for the final time after 103 years in business. Darlington's flagship House of Fraser store has announced its closure after over a decade.

The department store chain, which has operated in Darlington, County Durham, since August 1922, confirmed the decision on Friday, January 30, after staff were informed earlier in the week. Closing down signs have since appeared in the windows of the High Row store, with a sale offering 20% off full-price items, subject to exclusions.

The closure marks the second time House of Fraser has announced plans to shut its Darlington branch. The retailer had previously indicated the store would close in 2024, before a temporary reprieve was secured, Teeside Live reported.

The announcement comes just months after planning permission was granted to redevelop the former Binns building on High Row.

Approved plans would see the ground floor of the historic property divided into six separate retail units, alongside one main retail operator.

John Taylor, director at estate agents Parker Barras and acting on behalf of the building's owner, previously said the redevelopment plans were designed to "keep options open" for the future while discussions with House of Fraser continued.

At the time, he said he would "very much like" the retailer to remain in Darlington and believed it would continue trading in the town, despite its lease being due to expire in March 2026.

Binns has been a fixture of Darlington's retail scene since 1922, relocating to its current High Row site three years later. In March 2025, House of Fraser agreed a one-year deal to stay in the town following a turbulent period that had again put the store's future in doubt.

Elsewhere in the region, the retailer closed its Middlesbrough town centre store in 2022.

Reacting to the news, a spokesperson for Darlington Borough Council said: "The news that House of Fraser is closing is disappointing. The store has been at the heart of our town centre for many years and will undoubtedly be a miss for Darlington shoppers. As we learn more about the details of the closure, any relevant and appropriate support we are able to provide will be offered."

The closure represents another significant change for Darlington's high street, ending a retail presence that has spanned generations of local shoppers.