Work begins on restoration of historic Milsom Street store

Work on the historic Jolly’s store in Milsom Street is underway, with contractors now on site.

The contractor, Bray & Slaughter, is carrying out a programme of restorative works to the building, which is owned by Bath & North East Somerset Council.

This first phase of the project is concerned with overhauling the external fabric of the building to achieve a weather tight building and the work will include extensive roofing renewals, window repairs and rain water and drainage improvements. This will be followed by internal refurbishment work, carried out by Morleys, to create a vibrant new store to serve Bath.

Image: Jolly's Bath 

Jolly’s is one of Europe’s oldest department stores and has been a Bath landmark and a cornerstone of the city’s shopping scene for over a century. During the restoration, vinyl window graphics will display a series of images set in a timeline highlighting the rich history of Jolly’s in Bath — from the opening of a ‘seasonal’ shop circa 1823, to the planned reopening as part of Morleys Stores in spring 2026.

Councillor Mark Elliott, Cabinet Member for Resources, said: “Jolly’s store is a very significant council-owned asset and we are investing significantly in restoration of the building so it can continue to benefit future generations of Bath residents and visitors.  I’ll be taking a very active interest in progress as work is carried out to preserve the historic fabric of this flagship building at the heart of the Milsom Quarter.  We’re delighted to have a fantastic partner in Morleys to take on the running of the store once the restoration work is complete.”

Grant Jefferies, Managing Director of Bray & Slaughter, commented: “Growing up near Bath, Jolly’s has been a constant presence on Milsom Street during my life and to have the opportunity to showcase our technical skills and deliver a project which will secure a future for the site is a challenge my colleagues and I are proud to be entrusted with.”

The history of Morleys Stores also features on the timeline, alongside a promise to restore the store to its former glory and ensure that the Jolly’s legacy lives on for generations of Bath residents.

Allan Winstanley, Chief Executive of Morleys Department Stores, said: “We’re thrilled that work is underway restoring Jolly’s to its former glory. We’re extremely proud to be another step closer to taking stewardship of Jolly’s and creating a world class shopping experience for the people of Bath and its many visitors.”

The Milsom Quarter Masterplan will create a destination for fashion and culture with the new Fashion Museum Bath at the old post office as an anchor element. The area will be transformed into a welcoming, accessible and vibrant destination for residents and visitors in the heart of the city. For more information on the masterplan, and the other projects underway see our video and website.  

A series of drop-in events will be held during June and July, offering residents an opportunity to view the early-stage designs for the Fashion Museum, share ideas and help refine the plans. The dates for upcoming events are on the website.

Residents can also explore the plans and complete the survey online from 19 July.

Follow Jolly’s Bath at https://instagram.com/jollysbath and https://facebook.com/jollysbath