Former Yeovil Department Store Beales Takes Swipe at Government as Final Store Closes
Poole, Dorset — Britain’s oldest department store, Beales, which once had a proud presence in Yeovil, is closing its final store in Poole after 140 years of trading — and it isn’t going quietly.
Posters displayed in the shop windows have taken a direct swipe at the Government, blaming Labour Chancellor Rachel Reeves for policies the company says sealed its fate. In bold lettering, the notice accuses Reeves of making the business “unviable” by introducing a £200,000 annual increase in National Insurance and minimum wage costs — a burden Beales says it simply could not carry.
The poster reads: “Thank you to our loyal customers. Sadly, this is the end. Due to recent government policy on business taxes and wage hikes, this historic store can no longer survive.”
Beales CEO, Tony Brown, said in a statement:
“We’ve fought for years to keep the business going, but the latest changes have crippled us. When the cost of simply employing staff increases by hundreds of thousands of pounds overnight, small to medium retailers have no room to breathe.”
The closure of the Poole branch marks the end of the Beales brand — a department store chain that dates back to 1881 and was once a fixture in towns like Yeovil, Bournemouth, and Peterborough. Its Yeovil store, which closed in 2020, was a major retail landmark for decades.
Beales’ frustrations echo those of independent retailers across the UK. Many high street businesses have warned that rising wage obligations, inflationary pressures, and business rate hikes are driving them to the brink. Several have pointed to a disconnect between government economic policy and the realities facing brick-and-mortar stores, particularly outside London.
Industry experts say Beales’ criticism is emblematic of a wider issue. “Retail is on life support,” said retail analyst Caroline Finch. “The cost pressures are real, and the government hasn’t offered a roadmap for traditional retailers — just more expenses.”
Local shoppers in Poole expressed sadness and frustration. “Beales was part of our history,” said longtime customer Janice Morley. “It’s not just a shop closing. It’s another piece of our town disappearing.”
As the shelves empty and signs are plastered with ‘Everything Must Go’, Beales’ final farewell is also a warning shot — one that questions whether the high street can survive without fundamental change.