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Joules: Shock as Perth and St Andrews stores to close

Joules store in Bell St, St Andrews, will close on Saturday. Image: Google Maps.
Joules store in Bell St, St Andrews, will close on Saturday. Image: Google Maps.

Two Tayside and Fife fashion shops that were spared from the axe only weeks ago will close for the final time this weekend.

Joules stores in Perth and St Andrews will shut on Saturday.

It comes just weeks after the firm – which was bought out of administration in December – shut 19 shops across the UK, but saved its two Tayside and Fife stores.

However stores on St John Street in the Fair City and Bell Street in St Andrews will close on Saturday.

It is unclear how many jobs will be affected. Joules has been asked to comment.

A note posted on the St Andrews store’s social media pages states: “We’ve taken the decision to close this store on January 28.

“We’d like to thank you lovely lot for supporting us over the years.”

And a similar post on the Perth shop’s Instagram page reads: “It’s with great sadness that our team have to announce the closure of our gorgeous Perth store.

“We want to thank all our loyal customers who we have had the pleasure to help over our five years in the Fair City.”

It confirms the nearest Joules stores are now in Stirling and Aberdeen, the latter some 80 miles from St Andrews.

Customers ‘gutted’ at Joules closing

Customers voiced their disappointment at the decision on social media.

One wrote: “We will miss you all. A huge loss to our little street and also to St Andrews”.

A former staff member said they were “gutted” to hear of the St Andrews closure.

“This store is one of the best places I’ve worked and we were always super busy,” she added.

Another customer described it as a “sad sign of the times”.

Joules in St John's Street, Perth.
Joules in St John’s Street, Perth. Image: Joules

They added there was “no way” they’d travel to Stirling – a 52-mile trip – or Aberdeen to visit the nearest Joules store.

Staff at both affected stores declined to speak to The Courier.

It comes after the retail chain was acquired by rival next and founder Tom Joule in December.

Under that deal, Next now owns a 74% stake in the business, with Mr Joule owning the remaining 26%.

Joules story began in 1989, when Mr Joule started selling clothing on a stand at a country show in Leicestershire.

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