Boots the Chemist has refused to rule out a move into the premises occupied by BHS in Churchill Square when its Brighton store closes.
Boots is looking for new premises because John Lewis has bought the freehold of its shop on the corner of Queen’s Road and North Street.
The company said: “We are still committed to Brighton.”
But when asked specifically about the BHS store it added: “We aren’t able to comment on market speculation.”
The comments followed a report in the Daily Mail about which businesses want to buy all or part of BHS (British Home Stores) out of administration – or the shops rather than the trading business.
The Mail said that Boots the chemist wants “just the Brighton store”.
BHS in Churchill Square is still trading, offering 30 per cent discounts, while specialist accountants from the administrators Duff and Phelps try to work out the best way forward.
One of the administrators’ first decisions was not to accept payment by American Express, the global financial card company which has its European headquarters in Brighton.
John Lewis hopes to be able to share its plans with the public within a matter of months.
When the demise of BHS was announced I immediately thought of that Boots shop and its need to relocate. And thought the BHS premises would be an absolutely perfect fit as well as adding a missing ingredient to the Churchill Shopping Centre. It is clearly in a lot of minds besides mine and lets hope it happens.
It would be so good to see Boots get the BHS site when they close in the summer It will look a whole lot nicer than Sport Direct because apart from them trying to buy the whole BHS chain will they not also need to move to make way for John Lewis as Poundland have already vacated the 3 warehouse units on North Street as i read them 3 were going to be part of the new John Lewis.