THE comeback of Beales is continuing with plans to reopen a third department store later this year.

New Start 2020 – which bought the Beales brand name and reopened its Poole store – is preparing to open the branch in Southport, Merseyside, on August 5.

The original Beales chain went into administration in January 2020 and all its stores closed early in the pandemic.

Its Poole branch reopened last summer and was followed by the Peterborough store.

Tony Brown, who led the Beales company and is chief executive of New Start 2020, said trade had been going well at the Poole branch in the Dolphin Shopping Centre since lockdown restrictions were eased.

“We saw the initial lift and it died back a bit but in the last five or six weeks, as we’ve moved into summer, a lot more people have come out,” he said.

He said the online side of the business was doing well, especially for electricals and fashion.

“I think there’s more confidence coming back and hopefully on the 19th we’ll see a bit more confidence,” he said.

The Southport branch, for many years known as Broadbent & Boothroyd’s, was an institution in the town for generations.

Mr Brown said it would cover around 38,000sqft compared with the Poole store’s 56,000sqft.

It will be similar to the Poole store, with concessions for ranges including fashion, jewellery and electrical. “I think it will have a slightly larger furniture department but it’s the same concept as Poole,” said Mr Brown.

“It’s with the same landlord.”

Like many retailers, the shop is paying rent based on its sales. “We work with the landlord and if you get the right turnover deal, it works quite well,” said Mr Brown.

“I don’t think we’ll do any more this side of Christmas. I think we’ll just stick with the three and see how it works.”