Cordings closes Harrogate store

Upmarket clothes store Cordings has permanently closed its Harrogate shop.

Cordings, whose only other store is in London’s Piccadilly, opened in Westminster Arcade in 2015.

Part owned by rock star Eric Clapton, the company dates back to 1839.

Its elegant outdoor clothes, including tweed jackets and moleskin trousers, appeared well suited to Harrogate’s clientele.

But Hillary Becque, marketing director of Cordings, told the Stray Ferret today that covid had been the Harrogate shop’s “death knell”.

She said “four or five” staff had lost their jobs, adding:

“We’ve loved being in Harrogate. It’s a brilliant town, with a lot of vibrant independents, so it was a great fit for us.

“This was not a decision we made lightly. The staff and customers have been absolutely brilliant.

“We just need to consolidate now.”

Ms Becque said Cordings had been particularly hard hit because its online trading operated from within its shops, which have been closed. She said:

“I don’t think many stores have not been affected by the pandemic but it’s been particularly tough for smaller stores like ourselves.”

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