Millions of customers lose access to John Lewis stores

Fifth of John Lewis customers not in easy driving distance of their nearest store after third of shops close

A fifth of John Lewis customers are not in easy driving distance of their nearest store after a third of its shops were closed. 

As high streets reopen, eight John Lewis shops will stay shut in a move overseen by chairman Sharon White. 

Eight other closures were announced last year. 

Closures: As high streets reopen, eight John Lewis shops will stay shut in a move overseen by chairman Sharon White (pictured)

John Lewis analysis shows 20 per cent of its customers must now drive more than 45 minutes to their nearest store. 

Those from Hull face a 148-minute round-trip to Leeds. 

From Aberdeen, it is a five-hour trip to Edinburgh. 

Although John Lewis said it is ‘fully national’, retail analyst Andrew Busby said: ‘Many shoppers don’t want to shop online, they want to visit the store.’