Harvey Nichols will disappear from Bristol and Leeds under plans by retail giant Frasers Group, Business Live understands. The luxury department store chain was rescued from administration by the owner of Sports Direct in August.
It is understood Frasers will convert the two branches - on Quakers Friars in Bristol and Briggate in Leeds - to its Flannels brand. It will still retain the Harvey Nichols stores in London Knightsbridge, Edinburgh and Manchester.
Stores to be rebranded as Flannels
Harvey Nichols has been a fixture of the high street in Leeds for 30 years, while in Bristol it has been operating since 2008.
The news comes amid the launch of Frasers Group Luxury - a portfolio of retail businesses that include UK brands Flannels and Harvey Nichols, alongside US luxury retailer The Webster.
Frasers Group Luxury launch
Michael Murray, Frasers Group chief executive, said: “Luxury has been a core pillar of Frasers Group for more than a decade, starting with Flannels and growing into a profitable £1b+ luxury ecosystem in just 10 years.
“With over 100 stores across the UK and US, we’ve built the expertise, scale, and brand relationships to support our next phase of growth.
“Our ambition is clear: to continue scaling Frasers Group Luxury globally through organic expansion, acquisitions, and strategic investments, creating long-term value for our brand partners, customers, and the group.”
Brand history and expansion
Flannels was acquired by Frasers Group in 2017 and has more than 80 stores across the country, while The Webster became part of the business in 2025 as the retail conglomerate entered the US market.
Julia Goddard, Harvey Nichols chief executive officer, said: “Frasers Group provides Harvey Nichols with the expertise, support, and pace to build on our heritage and shape our next chapter. Its understanding of luxury, combined with a strong operational and commercial approach, gives us the confidence to invest, evolve and build for the long term.”
Frasers, which is owned by British billionaire entrepreneur Mike Ashley, began as a single store in the UK in 1982 and rebranded from Sports Direct International to Frasers Group plc in 2019.
The business has swooped on several major high street brands in recent years, including an unsuccessful attempt to takeover Somerset handbag retailer Mulberry in 2024. Mulberry said at the time the possible offer from Frasers did not recognise its “substantial future potential value”.
