Jenners

Jenners was a historic department store on Princes Street in Edinburgh, Scotland. Founded in 1838 as Kennington & Jenner by linen draper Charles Jenner and Charles Kennington, it remained associated with the same Princes Street site throughout its retail history, although the original building was destroyed by fire in 1892. A replacement designed by architect William Hamilton Beattie opened in 1895 and became one of Edinburgh's best-known commercial buildings. Its ornate Renaissance Revival architecture, grand central saloon hall, timber galleries, glass roof and prominent female caryatids gave the store a strong civic and visual identity. The building was later extended in 1903 and 1955 and is a Category A listed structure. After Charles Jenner retired in 1881, the business was managed for many years by the Douglas Miller family, descendants of James Kennedy. Under their stewardship Jenners developed a reputation as an upscale Scottish department store and was sometimes described as the “Harrods of the North.” The business received a Royal Warrant in 1911, reinforcing its position in the luxury and prestige retail market. Its seasonal Christmas tree in the central hall also became a longstanding visitor attraction, while the building itself was an important part of Edinburgh's Princes Street streetscape. Jenners remained independent until 2005, when the Douglas Miller family sold the retail business to House of Fraser for £46.1 million. Unlike several other House of Fraser acquisitions, the Jenners name was retained. House of Fraser invested £3 million in improvements in 2008, and the basement toy department was subsequently operated under the Hamleys name from 2016 until its closure in 2019. Jenners also operated smaller locations, including a store at Loch Lomond Shores and former airport shops at Edinburgh and Glasgow International airports. The airport branches closed after post-2006 aviation-security changes contributed to a substantial decline in trade. The Princes Street store closed in December 2020 amid wider pressure on department-store retail. House of Fraser vacated the building in May 2021, and the Jenners signage was removed in April 2021, prompting an enforcement response from Edinburgh City Council because the building was listed. The historic property had been separated from the retail business and was acquired in 2017 by AAA United, associated with Danish investor Anders Holch Povlsen. Planning permission granted in 2022 envisaged converting the building into a 96-room hotel while retaining the central atrium and Jenners signage, with retail, restaurants and cafés at lower levels and a rooftop bar. A serious fire in January 2023 damaged the empty building and resulted in the death of firefighter Barry Martin. Restoration and conversion work was continuing in the mid-2020s. The former Loch Lomond Shores location continued under Frasers and Sports Direct branding, with little visible Jenners identity.

Jenners began in 1838 as Kennington & Jenner, founded in Edinburgh by linen draper Charles Jenner and Charles Kennington. The shop occupied its Princes Street location throughout its retail history, establishing a rare continuity between the business and one of Scotland's most prominent commercial streets. Charles Jenner retired in 1881, after which the Douglas Miller family, descended from James Kennedy, assumed long-term control of the business. The original store was destroyed by fire in 1892. William Hamilton Beattie was appointed to design its replacement in 1893, and the new building opened in 1895. Its early Renaissance Revival design incorporated elaborate columns, cornices, balustrades and female caryatids, reportedly included at Charles Jenner's insistence to symbolize women as the support of the house. The building also introduced modern retail facilities for its time, including electric lighting and hydraulic lifts. An extension toward Rose Street was completed in 1903 by Andrew Robb Scott, Beattie's partner, and another extension along Princes Street was added in 1955 by Tarbolton & Ochterlony. The store's interior became as important as its exterior. Its grand saloon hall featured three-storey wooden galleries, an elaborate timber stair and a glass and queen-post roof. A large Christmas tree displayed in the hall became a recurring seasonal attraction. By the twentieth century Jenners had acquired a reputation as one of Scotland's leading department stores and was often nicknamed the Harrods of the North. A Royal Warrant granted in 1911 further supported its prestige positioning. The building was designated a Category A listed building in the 1970s. The family-owned business entered a new phase in 2005. House of Fraser acquired the retail operation for £46.1 million after negotiations with the Douglas Miller family. Although House of Fraser had renamed some acquired stores, it preserved the Jenners identity. The new owner invested £3 million in improvements in 2008. Later initiatives included placing the basement toy department under the Hamleys brand in 2016, although that department closed in 2019. Jenners' estate and retail business were not permanently held by the same entity. In 2005 the lease-holding company JPSE Ltd was sold to Moorcroft Capital Management, associated with former chief executive Robbie Douglas Miller. In 2017 the building itself was acquired by AAA United, linked to Danish fashion retailer and Scottish landowner Anders Holch Povlsen. The retail business faced increasing structural challenges, including changing shopping patterns and the pressure on large department stores. The company considered reducing the Princes Street operation or relocating in 2019. The Princes Street store closed in December 2020, and House of Fraser vacated the building in May 2021. Removal of the historic Jenners letters from the façade led Edinburgh City Council to issue a listed-building enforcement notice requiring their reinstatement. In 2022 AAA United obtained planning permission for a hotel conversion retaining the atrium and signage, with new retail, dining and café uses at lower levels. A major fire in January 2023 caused further damage and killed firefighter Barry Martin after he sustained critical injuries. By 2025, preparatory work had included removal of old electrical wiring and asbestos, followed by installation work using a crane lowered through the roof. The planned redevelopment marked a transition from department-store retail toward heritage-led hospitality and mixed use.

• 2023

  Fire damages redevelopment site

  [1]Jennersen.wikipedia.org

  A fire broke out in the vacant building; five firefighters were injured and Barry Martin later died.

• 2022

  Hotel conversion approved

  [1]Jennersen.wikipedia.org

  Planning permission was granted for a 96-room hotel and mixed-use redevelopment.

• 2020

  Princes Street store closes

  [1]Jennersen.wikipedia.org

  Jenners ended department-store operations at its flagship location in December.

• 2017

  Building acquired by AAA United

  [1]Jennersen.wikipedia.org

  The historic property was acquired by AAA United, associated with Anders Holch Povlsen.

• 2005

  Retail business acquired by House of Fraser

  [1]Jennersen.wikipedia.org

  House of Fraser bought Jenners while retaining its historic brand identity.

• 1955

  Princes Street extension added

  [1]Jennersen.wikipedia.org

  A further western extension expanded the department store along Princes Street.

• 1911

  Royal Warrant granted

  [1]Jennersen.wikipedia.org

  Jenners received a Royal Warrant, strengthening its prestige retail credentials.

• 1903

  Rose Street extension completed

  [1]Jennersen.wikipedia.org

  The building was expanded northward in a design matching the original architecture.

• 1895

  Present historic building opens

  [1]Jennersen.wikipedia.org

  William Hamilton Beattie's replacement building opened on the longstanding site.

• 1892

  Original building destroyed by fire

  [1]Jennersen.wikipedia.org

  A fire destroyed the original Princes Street premises.

• 1881

  Charles Jenner retires

  [1]Jennersen.wikipedia.org

  Management passed into the hands of the Douglas Miller family, which ran the store for many years.

• 1838

  Jenners founded as Kennington & Jenner

  [1]Jennersen.wikipedia.org

  Charles Jenner and Charles Kennington established the business in Edinburgh as a linen-drapery concern.

Historic upscale department store with a strong Edinburgh identity, traditional service reputation and heritage architecture.

• Apparel

  Fashion and accessories

  Jenners' core department-store offer included upscale clothing, footwear and fashion accessories. The range supported the store's reputation as a traditional premium retailer serving Edinburgh residents, visitors and tourists.

• Beauty

  Beauty and cosmetics

  Beauty products formed part of the store's broader premium department-store assortment, alongside fashion and accessories. No specific proprietary beauty line is identified in the supplied sources.

• Homeware

  Home and gifts

  Jenners sold home-related goods, gifts and other general department-store merchandise. These categories complemented its fashion-led positioning and its role as a destination for visitors to central Edinburgh.

• Toys · 2016

  Hamleys toy department

  The basement toy department was rebranded under the Hamleys name in 2016 as part of House of Fraser's development of the store. It closed in 2019.

• 2022

  Conversion of the historic building into a hotel approvedStrategy

  Background

  After the department store closed, the property owner pursued a new use for the listed building.

  Action taken

  AAA United received permission for a 96-room hotel with retained atrium and signage, lower-level shops, restaurants and cafés, and a rooftop bar.

  Aftermath

  Restoration and conversion work proceeded after a 2023 fire damaged the vacant building.

  Source

• 2019

  Possible reduction or relocation consideredStrategy

  Background

  The business was reported to be reviewing the scale and location of its Princes Street operation amid retail-sector pressure.

  Action taken

  Jenners considered reducing the store's size or moving from Princes Street.

  Aftermath

  The Princes Street store closed in December 2020.

  Source

• 2016

  Toy department rebranded as HamleysStrategy

  Background

  House of Fraser sought to refresh parts of the store's offer after investing in improvements.

  Action taken

  The basement toy department was placed under the Hamleys brand.

  Aftermath

  The department later closed in 2019.

  Source

• 2007

  Removal of foie gras from the product rangeOther

  Background

  Jenners faced a public boycott by the Duke and Duchess of Hamilton over its sale of pâté de foie gras.

  Action taken

  The store announced that it would stop selling pâté de foie gras.

  Aftermath

  The decision received national attention as a prominent example of a retailer responding to a public ethical and reputational dispute.

  Source

1. 1Jennersen.wikipedia.org