I made final tearful visit to an iconic department store

This week, I visited a closing-down House of Fraser for the final time – and it was emotional. I popped in on the last day of trading (March 24, 2026) before the renowned department store in Plymouth shut its doors permanently.

All merchandise for sale in the outlet has been relocated down to the ground floor in recent weeks, in readiness for the vast shop’s closure – and it’s a sorrowful moment for Plymouth. I chatted with a shopper outside the premises this afternoon who remarked: “It’s a real shame.” His sentiments were mirrored by employees and fellow customers when I visited the store for the final time on Thursday. I observed that care had been taken inside to ensure everything on the displays looked appealing and well-presented, even as the department store approached its concluding hours.

There were deals to be discovered, certain items reduced down to 50% off, including designer dresses, handbags, shoes and men’s clothes. The upmarket outlet will be deeply missed by numerous people.

It was crowded in House of Fraser in its final trading hours – and the sentiments could be sensed as many, like myself, wished to visit for one final occasion.

I encountered one gentleman as I was departing who wasn’t aware it was the closing day for the magnificent shop. He was devastated to learn that he was (unknowingly) experiencing the Plymouth House of Fraser for one last occasion, too.

He shared with me: “I like to look at things before I buy them, losing this shop will be terrible, that’s such a shame to hear that it will be gone after today.”

I previously worked in this House of Fraser, and I’ve visited regularly throughout the years, also appreciating sitting in the downstairs Caffè Nero, which closed down on March 13.

It truly marks the end of an epoch: the beloved Dingles cafe on the uppermost floor of Plymouth’s House of Fraser will equally be deeply missed for its cuisine, panoramic vistas and expansive social gathering space.

Recollections of the perpetually exquisitely presented ladies’ fashion floor and the ground level, which accommodated all the cosmetics and makeup stations, alongside jewellery exhibitions and handbag collections, are merely some of the retail pleasures I’ll genuinely miss and recall with affection.

The shuttering of this House of Fraser will create a substantial void in the city’s retail landscape, particularly during the Christmas period when the department store would be thriving. I believe most residents will miss this iconic establishment for a considerable time.

House of Fraser’s closure merely contributes to the city’s evolving character, but it was perpetually far more than an enormous shop. When I was employed there, numerous regulars would drop by for a daily conversation, some to peruse, or to frequent the Dingles Cafe.

March 24, 2026, marked the final day of operation for Plymouth’s cherished House of Fraser – and I undoubtedly departed with a tear in my eye.