Latest news with #Beales
Metro
18-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
Help from Martin in EastEnders ‘secures the future of The Vic' in final twist
Martin Fowler's (James Bye) life insurance policy turns heads in EastEnders next week – when it could be used to secure The Queen Vic. As viewers of the BBC soap have seen this week, the Slater clan decided to play a practical joke on Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt), when he announced his decision to buy the famed boozer. Pretending she'd won £100k on a scratchcard, Stacey (Lacey Turner) took great joy in seeing him squirm. Unfortunately, the prospect of having that amount of cash in her pocket seemed out of the question. That was, until, a man from an insurance company arrived to tell her that her ex-husband Martin had left the same amount of money in his policy. It's been five months since the fruit and veg salesman was crushed under the rubble following an explosion at the pub, and nobody had a clue of the money he'd been squiraling to one side for years. As Stacey announced her intentions for how to distribute the cash between Martin's family, she also told cousin Kat Moon (Jessie Wallace) that she would like to make an investment opportunity in The Vic. She would have no say in the operational side of things – as old landlady Kat could step in and take over. In upcoming scenes, Kat's relishing in the idea of getting her hands on The Vic again, but Yolande Trueman (Angela Wynter) and Ian waste no time in raining on her parade, not happy with her decision to use Martin's cash. Meanwhile, Jean's minding Stacey's Baps when Alfie reaches out. He leaves a message, but she fails to mention it. More Trending Later, The Slaters arrive only to find the Beales also sniffing around the sale, when Jean finally remembers to pass on Alfie's message to Stacey. Kat returns home, beaming after a positive call from the bank – but things soon turn sour when Stacey drops a bombshell: she can't lend Kat the money after all. Stacey confides in Jean about the situation, with mum's words of wisdom soon getting her to rethink. View More » In a race against time, Jean, Freddie and Mo charge to stall the auction following Stacey's change of heart and decides to back Kat after all. Meanwhile, the bidding war kicks off properly, with the Beales going head-to-head with a developer. If you've got a soap or TV story, video or pictures get in touch by emailing us soaps@ – we'd love to hear from you. Join the community by leaving a comment below and stay updated on all things soaps on our homepage. MORE: All 43 EastEnders spoiler pictures for next week as a legend returns again MORE: EastEnders Episode Guide: All spoilers for next week MORE: EastEnders star James Bye's son, 2, rushed to hospital after eating 'seriously toxic' plant
Daily Record
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
BBC EastEnders legend Jake Wood finally breaks silence as he confirms return
Jake Wood will be returning to EastEnders as Max Branning, the character he infamously played for 15 years. EastEnders star Jake Wood is set to make a comeback to the popular BBC soap, reprising his role as Max Branning. The character was last seen on the show in February 2021. The acting star expressed his excitement about his return, stating: "I'm over the moon to be coming home to Walford. Max has got lots of unresolved drama with many characters, so I'm sure he'll be busy." He added: "I'm excited to see what he's been up to, and what is next for the character, but if his last 15 years in the Square are anything to go by, I'm sure there will be plenty of chaos." Max will make a brief appearance this autumn, reports the Mirror, before making a permanent return later in the year. During his initial run on the soap, Jake became a fan favourite, with his character Max being central to several major storylines. The Christmas Day episode where it was revealed that Max had an affair with his daughter-in-law Stacey Slater, played by Lacey Turner, is remembered as one of the most chaotic festive specials ever. Following his return to Albert Square, Max will discover his daughter Lauren (Jacqueline Jossa) is set to marry into the Beales, Stacey is now a widow, and he has a secret daughter with ex-lover Linda yet to be discovered. Speaking on the Scott Mills Breakfast Show on BBC Radio 2, the EastEnders legend described his return to the show as "quite emotional" and compared it to "a very warm hug". He remarked: "I just felt like it was the right time. I spoke to so many people there, they're just loving being there at the moment, I had a meeting with the new executive, Ben Wadey, back in January, and we went for lunch, and he just sort of outlined all of his ideas. "There's just so many characters that Max has got drama with, so it felt like the right time to go back and mix things up a bit." He further commented that his character's return would be "high, high, high drama" and clarified that it would not be "friendly and warm". EastEnders executive producer Wadey expressed: "I'm delighted to welcome the immensely talented Jake Wood back to the role of Max Branning. "While his character has only been away from Albert Square for four years, Walford, and the lives of those who live in it, have changed immensely. "Max has a lot of unfinished business, but whether he is welcomed by his family remains to be seen. "However, with a past as chequered as Max's, it's fair to say that many Walford residents will not be pleased to see him, putting the Brannings back at the heart of the square, and the drama, this year." Max previously departed EastEnders back in February 2021, concluding a 15 year stint on the show. Max left Albert Square after falling out with numerous family members and friends, and he relocated to New Zealand to be with his daughter Lauren and grandson Louie. Since his last EastEnders scenes were broadcast, Jake has been keeping himself occupied, starting a podcast and featuring in the West End show 2:22: A Ghost Story.
BBC News
13-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Bishop Auckland Beales store development hopes
A derelict department store building has been added to a catalogue of historic sites in the hope it can be former Beales store on Newgate Street in Bishop Auckland, County Durham, is Grade II listed and has stood empty since building has been included in Historic England's Heritage Investment Prospectus in an attempt to attract a new UK's Lyndsey Fox, cabinet member for economy and partnerships, said Durham County Council was open to working with any prospective buyers as part of efforts to regenerate the town. "We recognise the importance of the former Beales department store, both in terms of its rich heritage and the prominent position it occupies within the town," she said. "Our economic development, planning and conservation teams are working closely with Historic England to explore future uses for the building." Original staircase The Heritage Investment Prospectus showcases historic sites and buildings across England where owners are actively seeking investment partners or buyers, according to the Local Democracy Reporting said the local authority welcomed the "increased visibility" Historic England had provided by including the building in the Gothic Revival-style building was built in 1873 by the Bishop Auckland Co-operative Society and was extended over the next 30 England said the building retained a range of historic fixtures and fittings, including plasterwork, joinery and its original public permission was granted in 2019 for two possible redesigns, but work stalled on both plans. One aimed to turn the building into 27 apartments, while the other would have created a 62-bed is hoped the redevelopment of the site would lead to wider regeneration of the town England said: "The vacancy of this former department store is one of the reasons the conservation area is on the national Heritage At Risk Register; its revival would bring about broader benefits." Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
Scottish Sun
31-05-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Department store chain shutting last shop TODAY after 140 years as it's wiped off high street due to Budget tax hikes
The historic store launched a scathing attack on the Chancellor before shutting up for the last time today SHUTTERS DOWN Department store chain shutting last shop TODAY after 140 years as it's wiped off high street due to Budget tax hikes AN ICONIC department store has been forced to shut its last branch after 140 years of trading due to Rachel Reeves' Budget hikes. Beales has confirmed its last ever shop, located in the Dolphin Centre shopping mall in Poole, Dorset, will be closing for good today. 2 The Poole branch was the final department store to close Credit: Alamy 2 Beales hit back at the Chancellor's economic policies by announcing a "Rachel Reeves' Closing Down Sale" Credit: FACEBOOK - BEALES POOLE It marks the end of an era for the one of the oldest faces of the British high street, which first opened in Bournemouth in 1881. Struggles began for the retailer when it entered administration in January 2020, forcing the closure of 22 of its 23 shops. The shop in Poole reopened the same year after relocating to the shopping centre and remained the only Beales store standing. Despite weathering the financial storm for the past five years, Reeves' economic policies proved to be the final nail in the coffin for the iconic departmental store. Beales hit back at the Chancellor's economic policies by announcing a "Rachel Reeves' Closing Down Sale". On social media, the popular chain joked that it had fallen victim to the Budget "black hole". The closure will also affect an NHS clinic, which is located on the top floor of the Poole store. It was set up in 2021 to reduce waiting times, but will now move to St Mary's hospital on June 5. The death of the high street is the death of communities Beales chief executive Tony Brown explained that business had become "unviable" following the Chancellor's Budget last October. He said: "This, coupled with the risks and uncertainty of further tax increases in the coming years, have left us no other option. "We have been working with the Dolphin Centre, who have been supportive, along with our investors to ensure an orderly exit. "Our team has been informed, as have our suppliers. We will ensure the exit is managed and no one will be left with a financial loss." Below the advert for the "Rachel Reeves Closing Down Sale", which included discounts of up to 80%, the high street favourite launched a scathing attack on the Chancellor. A caption on the store's Facebook page read: "Our closing sale is almost over (cheers for the help, Chancellor) - and we've just dropped hundreds of lines to 80% OFF or more! "Grab a bargain before we vanish into the budget black hole. #FinalSale #80Off #LastChance #WhenItsGoneItsGone." UK Retail Shake-Up: Superdry and More It has struggled to cope with rises in national insurance contributions and higher minimum wage which came into effect last month. Like many other businesses, Beales faced higher employer NI contributions, which have risen from 13.8% to 15%. Additionally, the threshold at which these contributions must be paid has been lowered from £9,100 to £5,000. It came as the national minimum wage was notably increased, rising to £12.21 per hour. For workers aged 18-20, the minimum wage increased to £10 per hour from £8.60. These changes to the tax system were confirmed by the Chancellor in the Autumn Budget last October and came into effect on 1 April. The British Independent Retailers Association (Bira) warned this closure could be the first of many as retailers continue to struggle with mounting costs. Commercial director Jeff Moody said he was "deeply saddened" to hear about Beales shutting up shop. Why are retailers closing stores? RETAILERS have been feeling the squeeze since the pandemic, while shoppers are cutting back on spending due to the soaring cost of living crisis. High energy costs and a move to shopping online after the pandemic are also taking a toll, and many high street shops have struggled to keep going. However, additional costs have added further pain to an already struggling sector. The British Retail Consortium has predicted that the Treasury's hike to employer NICs from April will cost the retail sector £2.3billion. At the same time, the minimum wage will rise to £12.21 an hour from April, and the minimum wage for people aged 18-20 will rise to £10 an hour, an increase of £1.40. The Centre for Retail Research (CRR) has also warned that around 17,350 retail sites are expected to shut down this year. It comes on the back of a tough 2024 when 13,000 shops closed their doors for good, already a 28% increase on the previous year. Professor Joshua Bamfield, director of the CRR said: "The results for 2024 show that although the outcomes for store closures overall were not as poor as in either 2020 or 2022, they are still disconcerting, with worse set to come in 2025." It comes after almost 170,000 retail workers lost their jobs in 2024. End-of-year figures compiled by the Centre for Retail Research showed the number of job losses spiked amid the collapse of major chains such as Homebase and Ted Baker. It said its latest analysis showed that a total of 169,395 retail jobs were lost in the 2024 calendar year to date. This was up 49,990 – an increase of 41.9% – compared with 2023. It is the highest annual reading since more than 200,000 jobs were lost in 2020 in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced retailers to shut their stores during lockdowns. The centre said 38 major retailers went into administration in 2024, including household names such as Lloyds Pharmacy, Homebase, The Body Shop, Carpetright and Ted Baker. Around a third of all retail job losses in 2024, 33% or 55,914 in total, resulted from administrations. Experts have said small high street shops could face a particularly challenging 2025 because of Budget tax and wage changes. Professor Bamfield has warned of a bleak outlook for 2025, predicting that as many as 202,000 jobs could be lost in the sector. "By increasing both the costs of running stores and the costs on each consumer's household it is highly likely that we will see retail job losses eclipse the height of the pandemic in 2020." He added: 'This is not just the loss of another shop. "It represents the end of a retail institution that has served communities for nearly one-and-a-half centuries. 'This closure starkly illustrates the devastating impact that recent tax increases are having on our retail sector.' At its peak, Beales operated 41 stores across the country, selling a range of furniture, cosmetics, fashion products and toys. The high street chain shut its store in Southport last September just three years after the site reopened. FAMOUS NAMES GONE FROM THE HIGH STREET Beales is not the only brand that's been wiped from the high street in recent years. Ted Baker, fell into administration last March after years of turmoil. At the time it had 46 shops in the UK employing around 975 people. The last stores shut in August after failing to secure a full rescue. It was relaunched as an online brand in the UK and Europe after a partnership with United Legwear & Apparel Co. Flooring retailer Carpetright filed for administration in July after efforts to turnaround the struggling firm were derailed by a cyber attack. The business had 1,800 staff and 273 shops across the country before going bust. Around 54 stores were snapped up by its arch rival Tapi Carpets & Floors, which also bought its brand name and continues to run the brand online. LloydsPharmacy, once the UK's second biggest community pharmacy chain, went into liquidation in late January 2024 with debts of £293million. The previous year it had closed all of its pharmacies inside Sainsbury's and divided its 1,000 pharmacy estate into packages of hundreds of stores that it then sold to rivals in smaller deals. There are no more LloydsPharmacy-branded sites on the high street, but it continues to operate online.
The Sun
31-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Department store chain shutting last shop TODAY after 140 years as it's wiped off high street due to Budget tax hikes
AN ICONIC department store has been forced to shut its last branch after 140 years of trading due to Rachel Reeves' Budget hikes. Beales has confirmed its last ever shop, located in the Dolphin Centre shopping mall in Poole, Dorset, will be closing for good today. 2 It marks the end of an era for the one of the oldest faces of the British high street, which first opened in Bournemouth in 1881. Struggles began for the retailer when it entered administration in January 2020, forcing the closure of 22 of its 23 shops. The shop in Poole reopened the same year after relocating to the shopping centre and remained the only Beales store standing. Despite weathering the financial storm for the past five years, Reeves' economic policies proved to be the final nail in the coffin for the iconic departmental store. Beales hit back at the Chancellor's economic policies by announcing a " Rachel Reeves ' Closing Down Sale". On social media, the popular chain joked that it had fallen victim to the Budget "black hole". The closure will also affect an NHS clinic, which is located on the top floor of the Poole store. It was set up in 2021 to reduce waiting times, but will now move to St Mary's hospital on June 5. The death of the high street is the death of communities Beales chief executive Tony Brown explained that business had become "unviable" following the Chancellor's Budget last October. He said: "This, coupled with the risks and uncertainty of further tax increases in the coming years, have left us no other option. "We have been working with the Dolphin Centre, who have been supportive, along with our investors to ensure an orderly exit. "Our team has been informed, as have our suppliers. We will ensure the exit is managed and no one will be left with a financial loss." Below the advert for the " Rachel Reeves Closing Down Sale", which included discounts of up to 80%, the high street favourite launched a scathing attack on the Chancellor. A caption on the store's Facebook page read: "Our closing sale is almost over (cheers for the help, Chancellor) - and we've just dropped hundreds of lines to 80% OFF or more! "Grab a bargain before we vanish into the budget black hole. #FinalSale #80Off #LastChance #WhenItsGoneItsGone." UK Retail Shake-Up: Superdry and More It has struggled to cope with rises in national insurance contributions and higher minimum wage which came into effect last month. Like many other businesses, Beales faced higher employer NI contributions, which have risen from 13.8% to 15%. Additionally, the threshold at which these contributions must be paid has been lowered from £9,100 to £5,000. It came as the national minimum wage was notably increased, rising to £12.21 per hour. For workers aged 18-20, the minimum wage increased to £10 per hour from £8.60. These changes to the tax system were confirmed by the Chancellor in the Autumn Budget last October and came into effect on 1 April. The British Independent Retailers Association (Bira) warned this closure could be the first of many as retailers continue to struggle with mounting costs. Commercial director Jeff Moody said he was "deeply saddened" to hear about Beales shutting up shop. Why are retailers closing stores? RETAILERS have been feeling the squeeze since the pandemic, while shoppers are cutting back on spending due to the soaring cost of living crisis. High energy costs and a move to shopping online after the pandemic are also taking a toll, and many high street shops have struggled to keep going. However, additional costs have added further pain to an already struggling sector. The British Retail Consortium has predicted that the Treasury's hike to employer NICs from April will cost the retail sector £2.3billion. At the same time, the minimum wage will rise to £12.21 an hour from April, and the minimum wage for people aged 18-20 will rise to £10 an hour, an increase of £1.40. The Centre for Retail Research (CRR) has also warned that around 17,350 retail sites are expected to shut down this year. It comes on the back of a tough 2024 when 13,000 shops closed their doors for good, already a 28% increase on the previous year. Professor Joshua Bamfield, director of the CRR said: "The results for 2024 show that although the outcomes for store closures overall were not as poor as in either 2020 or 2022, they are still disconcerting, with worse set to come in 2025." It comes after almost 170,000 retail workers lost their jobs in 2024. End-of-year figures compiled by the Centre for Retail Research showed the number of job losses spiked amid the collapse of major chains such as Homebase and Ted Baker. It said its latest analysis showed that a total of 169,395 retail jobs were lost in the 2024 calendar year to date. This was up 49,990 – an increase of 41.9% – compared with 2023. It is the highest annual reading since more than 200,000 jobs were lost in 2020 in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced retailers to shut their stores during lockdowns. The centre said 38 major retailers went into administration in 2024, including household names such as Lloyds Pharmacy, Homebase, The Body Shop, Carpetright and Ted Baker. Around a third of all retail job losses in 2024, 33% or 55,914 in total, resulted from administrations. Experts have said small high street shops could face a particularly challenging 2025 because of Budget tax and wage changes. Professor Bamfield has warned of a bleak outlook for 2025, predicting that as many as 202,000 jobs could be lost in the sector. "By increasing both the costs of running stores and the costs on each consumer's household it is highly likely that we will see retail job losses eclipse the height of the pandemic in 2020." He added: 'This is not just the loss of another shop. "It represents the end of a retail institution that has served communities for nearly one-and-a-half centuries. 'This closure starkly illustrates the devastating impact that recent tax increases are having on our retail sector.' At its peak, Beales operated 41 stores across the country, selling a range of furniture, cosmetics, fashion products and toys. The high street chain shut its store in Southport last September just three years after the site reopened. FAMOUS NAMES GONE FROM THE HIGH STREET Beales is not the only brand that's been wiped from the high street in recent years. Ted Baker, fell into administration last March after years of turmoil. At the time it had 46 shops in the UK employing around 975 people. The last stores shut in August after failing to secure a full rescue. It was relaunched as an online brand in the UK and Europe after a partnership with United Legwear & Apparel Co. Flooring retailer Carpetright filed for administration in July after efforts to turnaround the struggling firm were derailed by a cyber attack. The business had 1,800 staff and 273 shops across the country before going bust. Around 54 stores were snapped up by its arch rival Tapi Carpets & Floors, which also bought its brand name and continues to run the brand online. LloydsPharmacy, once the UK's second biggest community pharmacy chain, went into liquidation in late January 2024 with debts of £293million. The previous year it had closed all of its pharmacies inside Sainsbury's and divided its 1,000 pharmacy estate into packages of hundreds of stores that it then sold to rivals in smaller deals. There are no more LloydsPharmacy-branded sites on the high street, but it continues to operate online.
