Frasers Group has taken down the Harvey Nichols website after acquiring it out of administration.
Mike Ashley’s retail group said it would not honour orders placed or gift cards bought prior to 13th August 2026, instead pointing customers towards administrators FTI Consulting.
Harvey Nichols is one of the UK’s most recognised luxury retailers, with a heritage spanning almost 200 years and a portfolio of more than 800 premium and luxury brands.
The acquisition – announced last week – includes Harvey Nichols’ portfolio of six stores, including the newly refurbished flagship in Knightsbridge, London, Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds and Edinburgh, together with its online business, existing inventory and over 1,000 employees.
However today the Harvey Nichols website has been taken down, with a holding page stating: “We are pleased to confirm that Harvey Nichols has entered an exciting new chapter with new ownership, supporting its future, under the Frasers Group.
“Harvey Nichols is currently unavailable online whilst we complete a period of transition.
“In the meantime, our stores remain open, and our teams are on hand to assist with anything you may need.
“Thank you for your continued support.”
It added underneath: “Orders placed and gift cards purchased prior to 13 August 2026 fall under the ownership structure preceding this transition. Refunds relating to these orders cannot be processed by Harvey Nichols directly; customers with an outstanding refund from this period are asked to contact, HNCustomers@fticonsulting.com.
“Orders placed from 13 August 2026 onwards will be processed under our standard refunds and returns policy.”
Customers emailing that address are receiving an automated reply which reads: “If you purchased goods from Harvey Nichols prior to 13 August 2026 and are seeking a refund, we would encourage you, in the first instance, to contact your credit card provider to understand whether you may be entitled to make a claim through them under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act or through a chargeback process.
“Given the likely timing of any dividend in the administrations, this may be a more immediate route to recovery for you.”
Shoppers “may also be entitled to submit an unsecured claim in the administration estate”, it added.
Harvey Nichols has faced sustained trading and operational challenges in recent years.
Frasers Group said significant restructuring and integration of Harvey Nichols into its ecosystem would be inevitable, including a review and rationalisation of the store portfolio, organisational structure, operating model and cost base.
Frasers Group is also a major shareholder in Debenhams Group, formerly Boohoo Group, and has previously been involved in an acrimonious dispute with its board.
Frasers – which placed iconic games retailer Game into administration recently – gatecrashed the bidding for Harvey Nichols after it was initially frozen out of the process.
Commenting on the acquisition of Harvey Nichols, Frasers Group CEO Michael Murray said: “Harvey Nichols is an iconic British institution with significant potential, but it is clear meaningful change is needed.
“The turnaround will require tough choices, and we are prepared to make those decisions, even if that means a smaller business in the near term, to create a stronger and more sustainable Harvey Nichols for the long term.
“By integrating Harvey Nichols into our existing luxury ecosystem, we believe Frasers Group can deliver the expertise, infrastructure and commitment needed to give the business the best chance of long-term success.”
Sky News has reported that a memo sent by Harvey Nichols’ chief merchant Kate Benson sought to reassure its 800+ luxury goods suppliers. These include Armani Beauty, Balmain, Cartier, Juicy Couture, Lancome, Nike and Polo Ralph Lauren.
However she wrote that there would be a need to “work collaboratively on outstanding payments and orders, to ensure we rebuild a sustainable business that can thrive in the future”.
When the deal was announced last week, Harvey Nichols CEO Julia Goddard said: “Today marks an important milestone for Harvey Nichols and provides a strong platform for the next phase of the business’s evolution under the ownership of Frasers Group.
“Over the past year, we have made significant progress in repositioning this iconic business, investing in our flagship store, broadening our customer proposition, and strengthening the brand DNA.
“I look forward to working closely with Frasers Group to build on the momentum already underway, driving sustainable growth through greater operational efficiency and enhanced infrastructure, and continued investment into customer experiences to ensure Harvey Nichols remains a distinct and relevant luxury destination for both our customers and brands.”