Next beauty

LANDLORD ‘HAS OTHER USE’ FOR FORMER HOME OF DEBENHAMS

NEXT is no longer going ahead with plans to open a beauty hall in the former Debenhams unit in Highcross.

The Enderby retailer had planned to take the main floor of the unit after Debenhams announced it would not be reopening post-lockdown.

The beauty hall was going to be part of a new concept for the fashion chain, which is opening similar stores in the next few months in Watford, Milton Keynes, Gateshead and Reading.

The plan for a Leicester branch was seen as a shot in the arm for the city centre after Debenhams confirmed in May it was closing the Leicester store and laying off hundreds of staff at its national head office.

Debenhams has suffered a difficult few years, falling into administration for the second time in a year and suffering the huge economic consequences of the UK lockdown.

It also pulled out of plans to build a major store at Fosse Park.

Next had been working on a deal with Highcross owner Hammerson to open three beauty concepts in the existing beauty halls of the now-closed Debenhams store.

However, Next chief executive Lord (Simon) Wolfson said the plans had changed.

He said: “There are two other beauty halls that have conditional contracts in place that are likely to open in January – but they are conditional contracts.

“We are not proceeding with the one in Leicester. The landlord has found an alternative use for that property.”

The beauty stores that do open will feature a mix of branded beauty products, women’s accessories, lingerie and nightwear and an offer of Next Home products.

They are part of a big drive by the business to extend its beauty offering, which is growing by about 60 per cent year-on-year.

It now includes more than 285