John Lewis to close Knight & Lee department store, putting 127 jobs at risk

Hampshire branch shuts as retailer battles tough trading conditions

Announcement comes just weeks after the company warned its annual staff bonus was under threat for the first time since 1953 (REUTERS)

John Lewis will close its Knight & Lee department store in Hampshire putting 127 jobs at risk.

The employee-owned partnership said it was closing Knight & Lee in Southsea partly because its size and condition meant it would need significant investment. Knight & Lee is the smallest department store in John Lewis’ estate.

Staff will be deployed to other John Lewis stores and Where possible, John Lewis said.

It is the first time John Lewis has closed one of its department stores since 2006 and comes after the company warned its annual staff bonus was under threat for the first time since 1953 as it fights against tough trading conditions.

Knight & Lee has been a presence in Southsea since 1865 and was bought by John Lewis in 1933.

John Lewis maintained that is not currently planning other store closures.

Dino Rocos, operations director at John Lewis, said: “We have not taken this decision lightly and we considered every implication for our partners, customers and the community.

“However, a unique combination of factors, including the significant investment required and the opportunity to sell the property freehold, makes this the right decision for the financial sustainability of our business. ”

He added that finding suitable roles for the employees affected is an “absolute priority”, but “there will unfortunately be some redundancies and we will work hard to support all the partners affected”.

The department store chain saiod it would restructure its maintenence division by moving most of its work to one supplier, CBRE.

As part of the changes, 365 maintenance staff will move to CBRE in July.