It’s a brand synonymous with high streets across the UK - and has been one of the most popular department stores across the last century. 

House of Fraser, originally named Arthur and Fraser after founders Hugh Fraser and James Arthur, first opened in Glasgow, Scotland in 1849. 

It went on to become one of the biggest department store chains in the country - and still remains in several high streets across the UK. 

However, as the years have gone by, the number of House of Fraser stores across the North East have reduced - and just this month its final store in the region, on High Row in Darlington, was confirmed to be pulling down the shutters.  

House of Fraser in Darlington, which is set to closeHouse of Fraser in Darlington, which is set to close (Image: PAUL NORRIS)

This follows in the footsteps of Middlesbrough, Sunderland, and Gateshead, which have all seen House of Fraser stores close in recent years. 

There’s often discussion about who owns the major chain - and what its parent company is called. Here’s how the situation looks now - and who is in charge of the brand. 

 

Who owns House of Fraser? 

House of Fraser is currently owned by Frasers Group plc, formerly known as Sports Direct International plc, with Michael Murray being the current chief executive officer. 

Murray is the son-in-law of Mike Ashley, who founded Frasers Group from a small store in Maidenhead in 1982. 

Ashley handed the reins over to Murray when he stepped down as CEO in 2021 - although he remained on the board until 2022. 

However, he remains the retail group’s largest shareholder, currently holding a 73% stake.

Mike AshleyMike Ashley (Image: Yui Mok/PA Wire)

The long and complicated history of House of Fraser

Founded in 1849, House of Fraser started as a small drapery shop in Glasgow. 

Eventually, the co-founders Fraser and Arthur went their separate ways, with Arthur keeping the retail side of the company, which later became Fraser and Sons. 

Fraser's son, also Hugh, then took over more of the expansion of the business, with the first Hugh Fraser’s grandson, Hugh Fraser III, being the man who truly helped transform the company.

Hugh Fraser oversaw the expansion of the business set up by his fatherHugh Fraser oversaw the expansion of the business set up by his father

In 1948, the firm was then re-named House of Fraser and was listed on the London Stock Exchange. 

Several years later in 1953, the company bought rivals Binns, which was founded in Sunderland in 1807, and then Harrods in 1959. 

The company was then sold to the Egyptian Al-Fayed brothers for a huge £615m in 1985, a time when the company had store chains such as Army and Navy, Rackhams, Binns, Dingles and Dickins and Jones under its belt. 

Sports Direct International plc eventually took over the companySports Direct International plc, now Frasers Group plc, eventually took over the company (Image: Nicholas.T.Ansell/PA Wire)

However, Harrods was moved out from the House of Fraser umbrella in 1994, with Mohamed Al-Fayed splitting from the firm and it being relisted on the stock exchange. 

Over the next decade, House of Fraser saw several store closures - until a new buyer surfaced in 2006 in the form of Highland Group Holdings, a deal worth £350m.

Then in 2014, the company was sold to Chinese department store group Nanjing Xinjiekou, which is a part of Sanpower. 

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Sadly it was 2018 when the company collapsed into administration - but not before it was saved by Mike Ashley and Sports Direct International just hours later. 

Mr Ashley has had an interest in House of Fraser since 2014 - he bought an 11% stake when 89% of the business was sold to Sanpower.

2019 then saw the rebrand of Sports Direct International to Frasers Group plc, as we know it today.