Corrie star Michelle Keegan switches on Kendals’ lights to kick off 175th anniversary celebrations

To celebrate its 175^th anniversary, Michelle Keegan (Tina McIntyre in Coronation Street), is switching on the external store lights at House of Fraser Kendals on Thursday 4 November at 6pm – see photo-call RSVP details below.

With Coronation Street reaching its 50th Anniversary next month, this double celebration will also see Michelle and General Manager Gary Slattery launch the ‘Corrie Corner’, which will stock Coronation Street commemorative gift items exclusive to the store.

Believed to be the oldest department store in the world, House of Frasers Kendals 175^th anniversary celebrations will commence on Thursday evening with a VIP cardholder event and the opening of the famous store’s Heritage Exhibition on the 5^th floor.

Exhibits include historic images and store memorabilia, including leather-bound ledger books, a timeline of the store taking in Manchester and fashion, and a specially-written vinyl record from 1980 designed to boost staff morale before they went on the shop floor.

Other activities over the celebratory weekend will include:

• Gold coins giveaway – 1000 gold coins will be distributed in and around the city centre and can be redeemed in store on the fifth floor in exchange for luxury prizes, including, afternoon tea at Tom’s Champagne Bar, a Karen Millen handbag, Swarovski bracelet, and vouchers to spend in store.

• Andrew Nutter cooking demonstrations on Saturday 6 November at 1pm and 3pm on the 4th floor. The gregarious and flamboyant chef will be signing his new cookbook, ‘Nuts About Food’ on the day.

• Renowned Manchester DJs entertaining visitors to the men and women’s fashion floor, including; Luke Cowdrey one half of the The Unabombers, founders of Manchester’s legendary club night The Electric Chair; Neil Scott of Manchester’s underground hangout Eldiablos Social Club; Danielle Moore, one fifth of dance group Crazy P and Ruf Dug.

-ENDS-

To attend the photocall with Michelle Keegan (no interviews) at the corner of Deansgate and King Street West & for further information, contact:

Philippa Short, SKV Communications T: 0161 838 7770 E: Philippa.Short@skvcommunications.co.uk

Sophie Chadwick PR and Promotions Manager, House of Fraser Kendals
T: 0161 832 3414 E: schadwick@hof.co.uk

www.houseoffraser.co.uk

In a fashion focused city, House of Fraser Kendals has remained a major Manchester institution and, while keeping its traditional values of a family department store, it is constantly evolving with new additions to its fashion retail. It is the only store in the UK to exclusively stock the legendary and recently relaunched Biba woman’s fashion brand and is also home to the largest menswear floor in the UK, stocking Ted Baker, Aquascutum and Paul Smith.

Editor’s Notes – The history of House of Fraser Kendals

On Boxing Day 1835 Thomas Kendal, James Milne and Adam Faulkner opened a department store on the corner of Deansgate named Kendal, Milne & Falkner, specialising in the sale of regular goods and the discounted stock of bankrupts and so began its long tradition of winter sales.

By the close of the century, there was a catalogue and the range had expanded from drapery and fashions to include cabinet-making, funeral undertaking and consumer goods. More than 900 staff were employed across sites on both sides of Deansgate and extravagant tearooms, featuring oriental rugs, palms and velvet-covered seats were the most fashionable venues in town.

Ladies’ and children’s shoe departments were added and sites became linked by an underground passage – still accessible, behind the scenes, from today’s menswear department, the largest in the country.

In 1901, Kendals was appointed ‘Upholsterers to the Royal Household’. House of Fraser’s Royal Warrant, maintained by the current queen, will begin to reappear on branding this year.

When the First World War hit, trading continued, with adverts and photos showing the women’s V neck – condemned as ‘indecent’ and ‘hazardous to health’ – among the fashion-forward trends taken on.

In 1919, the store was bought for £675,000 by Harrods who would maintain it until the 1959 sale to House of Fraser.

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