House of Fraser was in Chichester for more than 40 years – what do you miss most?

Having owned the West Street store since the 1970s, the company confirmed the final closing date in October 2018, following months of uncertainty.

The Chichester site was one of 31 House of Fraser stores to close. Signs in the window read 'Closing down 20 per cent off' and staff revealed the last day of trading would be January 27, 2019.

Council leaders and Observer readers responded to the news at the time with sadness. Some remembered working there and others loved browsing the different sections.

Louise Goldsmith, who was leader of West Sussex County Council, said: "The news that the House of Fraser store in Chichester is closing is really a big blow for residents, visitors and in particular the staff who work there. For so many years we have had a department store in West Street and I think everyone will be saddened at its final demise.

"We all know that high streets across the country face huge challenges as our shopping patterns have changed due to the internet. Chichester is one of the most resilient cities in the country however nobody can allow themselves to become complacent in these days of shifting shopping patterns."

Rachel Dadds expressed sorrow for the staff, while Mark Wells said it was the best company and store he had ever worked and Annette Hoskins recalled working in the staff canteen and restaurant back in the 1970s.

Jan Pulling said: "How very sad, loved going in there, very rarely came out without buying something. Sale time was even better. Chichester used to be a good place to shop."

Brenda Whitlock said: "I spent many a happy hour browsing in there and often met my two children from Bishop Luffa school and had a little snack in the restaurant.”

A major refurbishment programme was completed in November 2016, with increased floor space and new premium brands revealed across all departments, but Claire Pepper felt the store changed and became too expensive after a revamp.

A significant investment had been made, with an overhaul of the Chichester store’s flooring, lighting and interior layout to boost its offering of womenswear, menswear and beauty products.

House of Fraser had spent the best part of autumn 2016 conducting the extensive revamp, with the store and upstairs café kept open throughout.

John Higginbottom, who was Chichester store manager, said he was extremely proud of how premium the newly-refurbished store looked.

"We have created a department store of which Chichester can be proud," he said. "We’ve listened to our customers and introduced some amazing new brands such as Jo Malone and Bobbi Brown - all brands which customers wanted to see in their local department store."

As part of the work, hidden windows were exposed to provide more natural light and the floors were extended to allow for new names, including Warehouse, Jigsaw and Barbour.

The beauty hall was transformed to introduce five luxury brands previously not available in Chichester, Jo Malone boutique, Bobbi Brown, Decleor, La Mer and Origins.

Menswear also gained premium brands and labels, with Hugo Boss introducing Boss Orange and Boss Green, as well as Barbour, Farrah and All Saints.

No less than ten brands were added to womenswear, including popular labels Whistles, All Saints, Gant, Polo, Warehouse, Jigsaw and Hallhuber.

The fashion accessories department nearly doubled in size, with notable new brands including Calvin Klein and Guess.

But it was all to no avail as just over two years later, the doors were locked for the final time. A sign declared: "Thank you and farewell! Everyone at House of Fraser Chichester would like to thank you for your custom of the past 70 years.”

Shoppers again shared their memories of the site over the decades, including fans of the store who travelled from as far as Australia, New Zealand and the United States.

Karine Wood said: “My husband and I are really sad it’s closing. Twenty years ago we worked together as teens, chatted again on Facebook and arranged to have coffee to catch up in the café there as old friends. Six years on we are now married and just had a baby boy. That day in House of Fraser changed our lives.”

Karl Saunders returned to Chichester every other year from his home in Melbourne, Australia, to shop in 'this great department store to purchase clothes'.

Historically, the site housed Bluecoat School but St George's House had been a department store since the Second World War.

Before House of Fraser, it was Army & Navy and prior to that, it was Morants. The Southsea company J.D. Morant Ltd relocated from Southsea in 1941 due to extensive damage during the Blitz.

George Barker, a Chichester Observer columnist, wrote regularly about the Portsmouth store, so it was a familiar name in the city, even before it opened there.

Andrew Slade recalled playing a trumpet fanfare for Morants in the late 1960s when Valerie Singleton visited and Gloria Robinson remembered having her first 'grown up lunch' in Morants with her grandfather in 1963 aged 13, feeling ‘so grown up’ with her orange juice in a balloon glass.