Ted Baker is closing its remaining stores with 500 jobs at risk

The remaining 31 stores are expected to close on Tuesday (August 20) as talks between Mike Ashley’s Frasers Group and Ted Baker’s owner Authentic are reported to have stalled, according to Sky News.

The company behind Ted Baker’s UK shops, No Ordinary Designer Label, fell into administration in March. 

Ted Baker had around 975 employees in the UK and 46 stores, as well as a website and department store concessions. The closures put more than 500 jobs at risk. 

Administrators said in April that Authentic was continuing “discussions with potential UK and European operating partners for the Ted Baker brand”.

Frasers Group and Next were both reported to be in line for a deal, while Ted Baker’s previous US licensing partner OSL also expressed interest initially.

The brand has licensing agreements in place for shops in cities across Asia and the Middle East, which continue to be unaffected.

Ted Baker’s UK website said on Sunday “Goodbye for now” and added that it was “not taking orders right now”. Customers have 14 days from Sunday to return items.

The 31 stores now closing are: Ashford, Bath, Belfast, Bluewater shopping centre, Braintree, Brent Cross, Bridgend, Cannock, Cheshire Oaks, Dublin, Grafton Street, Gatwick North, Gatwick South, Glasgow Buchanan Street, Gloucester Quays, Heathrow T2, T3, T4 and T5, Kildare, Livingston, Luton, Manchester Shambles, O2 Outlet, Portsmouth, Regent Street, Sheffield, St Pancras, Stansted, Swindon, White City and York.