The iconic John Lewis department store in Brighton is to shut its doors for good, a move its management has squarely blamed on the government's business rates regime creating 'impossible' trading conditions.
The closure of the landmark Churchill Square store, first opened in 2001, places approximately 300 jobs at risk and represents a significant blow to the city's retail landscape. In a stark statement, a spokesperson for the employee-owned partnership confirmed the difficult decision, highlighting the immense financial pressure from property taxes.
'The trading performance of the shop is forecast to be loss making for the foreseeable future,' the spokesperson said. They emphasised that the high cost of business rates, a tax on commercial properties, had made the situation untenable. 'We have not been able to secure a lease on a sustainable basis... High property taxes, in particular business rates, are a significant factor.'
The announcement has sent shockwaves through the local community. Brighton Pavilion's Green Party MP, Caroline Lucas, condemned the closure as 'devastating news for our city centre and for the 300 staff who face losing their jobs.' She joined the chorus of criticism against the business rates system, calling it 'fundamentally broken' and urging the government to implement a major overhaul.
This closure is part of a wider strategic shift for the John Lewis Partnership, which has been forced to adapt to changing consumer habits and severe financial headwinds. The company has been reviewing its property portfolio for several years, having already closed other stores including those in Sheffield and Peterborough.
The Brighton store will continue trading until early 2025. The company has stated it will now enter a period of consultation with its partners (employees) and will endeavour to find them alternative roles within the partnership wherever possible.
