BEALES is expecting big queues for a one-off sale which it says will be the biggest in its history.

All the company’s stores will offer eye-catching discounts on Thursday, November 1, 6-9pm, following a trial in the summer which saw queues form outside 10 stores.

Offers will include Radley handbags from £29, 50 per cent off top fragrances, 15 per cent off cosmetics, 50 per cent off everything in the Christmas and gifts department, and 75 per cent off Fogarty 10.5 tog duvets and Skyflite Domino luggage.

Beales revealed last week that chief executive Tony Brown had taken control of the company in a management buyout, backed by private equity funding.

Mr Brown said: “We tested the one-night idea in the summer. We had a phenomenal reaction from our customers.

“Now our buyers have gone out and bought up large volumes and even better offers than we had last time because we were able to plan it across all our stores.

“It will be probably the biggest event we’ve ever had and the biggest investment in stock for an event to give customers genuine bargains – not bargains that have been manufactured, they are genuine reductions.”

The move comes at a turbulent time for the high street, with House of Fraser and Debenhams planning to close stores. Marks and Spencer left central Bournemouth in April.

The chancellor announced £675million to help the high street in Monday’s budget, but is only proposing to cut business rates for smaller retailers.

Beales’ accounts have revealed it is still losing money, but the company said losses had dropped by 56 per cent once exceptional factors had been stripped out.

Mr Brown said of the sale: “We’ll have the best offers on the high street that night. Even I was stunned by some of the products they’ve managed to buy.”

He said the store would offer free Prosecco and was improving its crowd management for the event.

“Last time, it took a long time to get people in. People will be able to get into the store a lot quicker,” he said.

“It will be a great, fun time.”