'Harris Scarfe is a longstanding retail institution,' said administrator Vaughan Strawbridge.
'We will be making every effort to secure a future for the business and intend to commence an immediate sale of business process.'
It’s believed all gift cards will be honoured for the time being, and stores will continue to operate over Christmas with staff still being paid.
Harris Scarfe is the latest big retail business to go into voluntary administration in 2019, with Napoleon Perdis, Bardot, Crinitis, Style Runner and four others also going bust.
