{"id":43,"date":"2021-02-19T15:14:54","date_gmt":"2021-02-19T15:14:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.birst.co.uk\/history\/?p=43"},"modified":"2021-02-19T15:14:55","modified_gmt":"2021-02-19T15:14:55","slug":"the-decline-of-department-stores-and-the-future-development-of-banbury","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.birst.co.uk\/history\/the-decline-of-department-stores-and-the-future-development-of-banbury\/","title":{"rendered":"The Decline of Department Stores and the Future Development of Banbury"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Colin West, Fa\u00e7ade, Cornhill Exchange, Castle Centre, Banbury <\/em>(colour photograph). 19th<\/sup> May 2014. British Listed Buildings https:\/\/britishlistedbuildings.co.uk\/101046917-facade-cornhill-corn-exchange-castle-centre-banbury\/photos\/104192#.YARxny2cZQI<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Banbury town centre has a variety of shops, from the high street to the shopping centre it offers different shopping experiences to suit a variety of people\u2019s needs. It also has a regular market which is open on Thursdays and Saturdays, though this has decreased in size over the years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

British Home Stores<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A staple of the town centre was their chain department stores, Debenhams and British Home Stores. British Home Stores had been part of the Castle Quay Shopping Centre since it opened in the 1970s, although it sadly closed in 2016. The department store brought in shoppers from out of town, and was a much loved shop in the shopping centre. Many members of the community have fond memories of British Home Stores, Rachel Mason remembers using the caf\u00e9 to meet up with members of the post-natal group she attended eighteen years ago when her daughter was a baby. The store helped bring together the community and people often frequented the caf\u00e9 to catch up with friends and family. The closure of the store in 2016 came as a shock to many, and an interview with Yvonne Davies highlights the impact and influence the shop had on people\u2019s experiences in the town. Many of the townsfolk remember the closure of British Home Stores, and remark that it was a shame to lose it from the shopping centre. The closure of the store was sad for many, especially the staff working in the store. Amie Louise Bartlett, former staff member, expressed that being told of the closure was devastating, especially as the staff were like family. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Interview with Yvonne Davies about British Home Stores.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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British Home Stores 2016, Amie Louise Bartlett. <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Debenhams <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Another of Banbury\u2019s department stores is Debenhams, but its closure was announced in December 2020. The chain had struggled many times over the years, after going into administration twice. The Banbury store remained safe, until the pandemic finally broke the chain and they set to close all Debenhams stores across the country. The date of closure has not yet been finalised, but closing down signs hang in the store windows. Banbury resident Matt Reynolds states that the department stores \u2018never moved with the times,\u2019 which is also backed up by a BBC report<\/a>, which says \u2018it became irrelevant\u2019 as it struggled to keep up with fashion trends. The department store brought in shoppers to Castle Quay, and its decline will in no doubt impact the number of people in the town centre. This was also evident with the loss of British Home Stores, and the town is now working on developments to keep people trading in the town centre. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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