Debenhams is back on Manchester's streets after four years, here's why (2025)

Turquoise Debenhams signs have appeared in the Northern Quarter building

Debenhams has returned to Manchester city centre – after a shake-up at one of the city’s biggest fashion firms.

The giant Debenhams store on Market Street closed in 2021 when its parent company collapsed. The building is now being redeveloped.

Now bright turquoise signs for Debenhams Group have appeared on Dale Street in the Northern Quarter.

That’s because online fashion chain Boohoo, which bought the Debenhams brand in 2021, has now rebranded under that company’s name.

Boohoo was founded in Manchester in 2006 by Mahmud Kamani and Carol Kane and became one of the city’s biggest business success stories thanks to its online “fast fashion”. Its other brands include Pretty Little Thing and MAN, run from its base in Dale Street.

But the group has struggled in recent years, with sales falling as the company facing tough competition from rivals such as Shein. In recent months the company has also had a row with investor Mike Ashley, owner of Frasers Group, who battled to join its board.

In October last year Boohoo defied Mr Fraser and appointed Dan Finley, who had been leading Debenhams, as its overall group CEO. And this month Mr Finley announced plans to rename the group, with the slogan “Debenhams is back”.

He said: “The iconic British heritage brand, bought out of administration, has been successfully turned around. Rebuilt for the future and transformed into Britain's leading online department store.

“We've created a thriving community of brand partners with millions of consumers and we are growing rapidly. The most exciting thing is that we are just getting started. We see a clear path to scaling this into a multi billion-pound business with strong profitability.

"The successful turnaround of Debenhams is our blueprint for the wider turnaround of the Group. The turnaround of our Youth Brands is underway and will take time. I have inherited significant challenges. I can see their future potential as they evolve into fashion-led marketplaces and adopt a leaner operating model

"We go forward as Debenhams Group. This is a defining moment in our journey, reflective of our new strategy, new leadership and new beginnings.

"Debenhams Group is sharply focused on maximising value for all shareholders. It will be at the forefront of global digital retail. It will be a leaner, faster and more technologically advanced business. I am confident our best days are ahead of us and I am excited for our future.”

The Boohoo name change is set to be officially confirmed at Debenhams group's General Meeting in Manchester this Friday.

The old Manchester Debenhams store was in the Rylands Building in Market Street, which was opened by Rylands Textile Company in 1932 and sold to department store Paulden’s in 1957. It became a Debenhams in the 1970s and remained that company’s Manchester flagship until the original Debenhams business collapsed in 2001. Boohoo bought the online brand but not the high street stores across the UK, which closed.

The building was bought by German company AM Alpha for £87m in 2018. That company is now funding a massive ongoing redevelopment of the building.

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