Future of Hull's last department store in doubt as Debenhams and Kath Kidston call in administrators

THE future of the region's Debenhams stores is in doubt as the company decides to file for administration after the Coronavirus forced its shops to close.

The company's boss Stefann Vansteenkiste said the firm had taken the step to procted the business, its employees and other stakeholders and it was hoped the move would allow Debenhams to resume trading when the current Government restrictions were lifted.

How many of the firm's 142 shops would reopen is currently unknown, but it is understood the Hull store was trading well before the crisis hit.

The Hull Debenhams store is the last major department store in the city, while the firm has a second store in Beverley's Flemingate Centre, and also one in Scunthorpe on the North Lincolnshire Shopping Park.

Elsewhere, it is reported that the Kath Kidston chain is also to bring in the administrators. The company was working through a turnaround plan before the Coronavirus hit.