Topshop returns to Trafford Centre in John Lewis partnership. The Trafford Centre Topshop has made a return to the Trafford Centre, five years after the brand shut all its remaining stores, thanks to a partnership with John Lewis. The fashion brand, which shut its last standalone shops in 2021, will now occupy space in the John Lewis department store as part of its spring/summer expansion. The move follows John Lewis' long-term investment plan, seeing £800 million funnelled into its stores. John Lewis' partnership with Topshop, which was confirmed by the John Lewis Partnership last year, initially saw the fashion retailer open pop-ups in several of its stores. The high street absence of Topshop and its sister brand, Topman, dates back to 2021 when their former owner, Arcadia, went into administration. Following this collapse, the brand was bought by Asos, which continued to sell Topshop products online. Topshop's initial return to a physical retail environment occurred last year with its launch in Liberty, London, before announcing its collaboration with John Lewis weeks after. Now, the fashion brand will have a more pronounced presence across all of John Lewis' UK stores. However, Topman will only be available in seven stores. The Trafford Centre isn't the only Manchester site to be welcoming Topshop back, the John Lewis store in Cheadle will also see its return. Customers will also be able to purchase Topshop and Topman items on various John Lewis online platforms as part of the new launch. Michelle Wilson, managing director of Topshop, said: "Today is about making it easier for customers to access the Topshop and Topman pieces they love. "From our cult denim to new-season footwear, you can see it, feel it and take it home the same day. "Partnering with John Lewis brings Topshop back to high streets across the UK with the level of service our customers expect." The launch comes amid efforts from the department store chain to drive its growth as it continues with a major transformation plan under boss Peter Ruis. He said the brand, which is part of the John Lewis Partnership with supermarket chain Waitrose, is investing in its fashion offer to help drive its current strategy. Mr Ruis, managing director of John Lewis, said: "This moment marks a significant acceleration of our fashion ambition at John Lewis. "To be the exclusive home of an iconic brand like Topshop, sat alongside other exciting new brands, signals our commitment to be the definitive style authority on the British high street." John Lewis will also introduce 14 new fashion, jewellery and accessory labels ahead of this season amid efforts to expand its fashion offer. Topshop products will be available at the following John Lewis stores: * Glasgow, Scotland * Edinburgh, Scotland * Newcastle * Leeds * Liverpool * Trafford, Manchester * Cheadle, Manchester * Cardiff, Wales * Nottingham, Nottinghamshire * Leicester, Leicestershire * Solihull, West Midlands * Cheltenham, Gloucestershire * Norwich, Norfolk * Cambridge, Cambridgeshire * Welwyn, Hertfordshire * Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire * Chelmsford, Essex * Cribbs Causeway, Bristol * Exeter, Devon * Oxford, Oxfordshire * High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire * Reading, Berkshire * Bluewater Kent * Horsham, West Sussex * Southampton, Hampshire * Brent Cross, London * Stratford, London * Canary Wharf, London * Oxford Street, London * Peter Jones, London * White City, London * Kingston, London

John Lewis launches new hospitality experiences. At John Lewis Oxford Street, Warabi-Mochi Kamakura, a premium Japanese brand specialising in matcha and wasabi mochi, has a 450 sq ft pop-up at the entrance of the food hall. Customers can order specialist Japanese sweets, matchas and coffees to enjoy at the cafe, or takeaway as they shop. From 24 November, a 250 sq ft Christmas themed bar sits in the atrium of the Peter Jones on Sloane Square. It features 20 bar stools, alongside some smaller tables, and offers an array of cuvées. An Ori Caffe joins the John Lewis in Southampton, the eleventh Ori Caffe to be added to the John Lewis portfolio. The Mediterranean style menu offers a range of food, cocktails and coffee. In the past 12 months more than 15,000 sq ft of hospitality space has been added to John Lewis, bringing the total across 36 shops to 63 cafes and restaurants. Katie Papakonstantinou, director of services and hospitality for John Lewis, said: "We're continually looking for ways to enhance the John Lewis experience, and the addition of the Lanson Champagne Bar, Warabi-Mochi Kamakura and our new Ori Caffe in Southampton is a direct response to our customers' growing desire to combine shopping with unique and enjoyable experiences. "We have also recently expanded the Benugo cafes in our Norwich and Leeds stores, and this year also added Ori Caffes in our Liverpool and Solihull stores, and expanded our Ori Caffe in Bluewater - this is a countrywide investment." The hospitality expansion is part of a wider store transformation plan for John Lewis, which has also included a £10m refurbishment of its Bluewater store and investment into Beauty Halls in Liverpool, Solihull, Welwyn and Cambridge.

John Lewis unveils two new concepts at refurbished Bluewater store. John Lewis has launched two new concepts at its refurbished store at the Bluewater shopping centre. The first is the retailer's debut Gifting Emporium which at 650 square metres spans an area roughly the size of three tennis courts. Home to almost 1,800 new products and 14 new brands, the space offers a selection of gifts for all occasions grouped by passion points such as 'Home Lover', 'Hobbies & Adventure', 'Botanist', 'Foodie', 'Spa & Wellbeing', and 'Kids'. John Lewis said the change was driven by growing customer demand, with visits to its online gifting hub up 15% compared with the same period last year. The retailer has also unveiled its largest ever transformation of its home department, following a nearly £10 million investment. Moving beyond individual products, the redesigned concept encourages customers to shop by inspiration, featuring five distinct, in-house curated styles: Heritage, Modern Lux, Scandi, Rustic, and Timeless. Bluewater is the first John Lewis store to showcase the concepts, which will be rolled out to additional locations. Marking the largest refurbishment of a John Lewis store in four years, the 31,000-square-metre Bluewater store has been completely transformed. Highlights include a reimagined Beauty Hall featuring premium brands such as Fenty, Byredo, and Medik8, expanded fashion departments, and a new Waterstones shop-in-shop. Jason Wilary-Attew, director of home at John Lewis, said: "From weddings, new babies, and thoughtful thank yous, John Lewis has long been the home of year-round gifting. This year The Retail Bulletin Limited is turbo charging that with the launch of its first Gifting Emporium. "I'm equally thrilled to unveil the biggest transformation The Retail Bulletin Limited has ever made to the home department. Its new lifestyle-led concept, built around five distinct styles, is designed to inspire customers and make it easier than ever to create a look they love. "Bluewater is the perfect destination to touch, see, and feel both of these incredible new experiences first-hand and we look forward to introducing them to more of our stores in the future."