An iconic department store has been saved after the council struck a deal with a new company which plans to keep the historic store alive.

Department store chain Morleys has taken on Jolly’s and will reopen it next year. It will be keeping the historic Jolly’s name and retaining the stores manager, Jess Merritt-John, to run it.

The news comes just a month after the heartbreaking closure of the Milsom Street store which has been at the heart of the Bath high street for 200 years.

Morleys chief executive Allan Winstanley said: “We are thrilled to be bringing Jolly’s back to life and to be part of the vibrant retail landscape in Bath. Our approach is to treat each of our stores as a unique independent department store, ensuring we create an exceptional shopping experience tailored to the local community.

“We are especially pleased to confirm that we will be keeping the Jolly’s name, honouring its deep-rooted legacy in the city.”

After essential restorative works, Morleys hopes to reopen the store with an initial launch in March 2026, followed by a grand opening in October. A dedicated “heritage space” within Jolly’s will showcase the store’s history and Morley’s plans for its future throughout the renovation.

The agreement with Morleys comes after 18 months of work by Bath and North East Somerset Council, which owns the building, to save Jolly’s. Council leader Kevin Guy said: “The council has been working hard over the past 18 months to secure the future of this flagship store and a significant element of the plan is to make it once again the anchor store for Milsom Street.”

Under Morleys, Jolly’s will offer a “carefully curated selection” of fashion, beauty, and homeware to attract shoppers from Bath and beyond. The store will have a “full service” beauty experience and Morleys says it will introduce “exclusive names never before seen in Bath”.

Mark Elliott, the council’s cabinet member for resources, said: “We set out the council’s commitment to the local economy in our ten-year economic strategy and this investment is a very positive recognition of the great retail offer our city has and the work the council has undertaken to support it. I join others in welcoming Morleys Stores to Bath.”

John Wimperis
(Left to right) Council cabinet member for resources Mark Elliott, council leader Kevin Guy, Jolly\'s store manager Jess Merritt-John, and Morleys chief executive Allan (John Wimperis)

Mr Guy added: “Morleys Stores will bring an exciting shopping experience to residents and visitors alike and I am delighted to welcome the business to our vibrant city and to one of the most loved stores in Bath. Milsom Street has always been a very special shopping destination and Morleys Stores is a fantastic fit for the area.

“Morleys’ decision complements the investment the council is making in the Milsom Quarter.”

Morleys was founded in 1927. It has seven other department stores in London and in Newbury.

James Jolly founded his drapery store in Kent in 1811 and opened his first store in Bath in 1823. Since then, the department store has become Bath’s most iconic shopping destination. It had been run by the House of Fraser group since 1971, who closed the branch in February this year.

Jess Merritt-John, the store’s former manager who is staying to run it under Morleys, said that former staff were keen to return to the store. She said: “I have got a queue of people who are desperate to come back.”

She added: “I think they feel very passionate about it being the best department store it could possibly be.”