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Laura Ashley is set to return to the UK high street with the opening of a 10,000 sq ft flagship store at Lakeside Shopping Centre on 26 September, marking its first physical store launch in five years.
The home, fashion and lifestyle brand, founded in London in 1953, has not had a physical retail presence in the UK since its business fell into administration in 2020, leading to the closure of 152 stores.
The relaunch follows the acquisition of the brand by Marquee Brands, owner of Ben Sherman, in January.
The Lakeside shop will open in partnership with Next, which became Laura Ashley’s exclusive UK fashion partner in 2024. The collaboration will give the brand access to Next’s retail systems and stock management.
Rachel Terrace, chief commercial and growth officer at Marquee Brands, said: “Laura Ashley stores have always been destinations of inspiration, where consumers could explore and immerse themselves in the brand’s world of design.
“In partnership with Next, a leading retail partner for the brand, we are proud to reintroduce this experience in a refreshed retail concept. This opening represents a significant milestone in LauraAshley’s return to the UK retail market and signals the next phase of growth for the brand.”
The store will feature home furnishings, lighting, tableware, decorative accessories and soft furnishings, as well as Laura Ashley’s women’s fashion, sleepwear and childrenswear. It will also house a Sofa Shop, an Interior Design Service and a Design Hub for made-to-measure fabrics, wallpapers and paints.
According to Next, the opening will allow customers to “fully immerse themselves in the world of Laura Ashley”, describing Lakeside as “one of the UK’s best retail locations”.
The launch coincides with what would have been the 100th birthday of Laura Ashley, who co-founded the brand with her husband Bernard in the 1950s. A year-long programme, titled Laura Ashley: 100 Years of an Icon, is being held to mark the anniversary.
