What: Harrods announces its sixth H Beauty store in Chester, taking over part of the former Debenhams/Browns of Chester building, creating 70 jobs and continuing its successful beauty retail expansion across the UK.

Why it is important: This development showcases the continued strength of the beauty sector and Harrods' commitment to regional expansion, while providing a blueprint for repurposing vacant department store properties.

Harrods is set to open its sixth H Beauty location in Chester, occupying part of the former Debenhams/Browns of Chester building on Eastgate Street. The development, which spans both Grade I listed gothic-style and Grade II listed Georgian-fronted properties, will create 70 new jobs. This latest addition follows successful H Beauty openings at Lakeside in Essex, centre:mk in Milton Keynes, St James Quarter in Edinburgh, Cribbs Causeway in Bristol, and Gateshead's Metrocentre. The Martin Property Group, which owns the building, plans to split it into smaller, more marketable units as part of a broader revitalisation effort following Debenhams' liquidation and closure in May 2021. While an opening date has yet to be announced, the plans have received approval for transforming the ground floor space.

IADS Notes:Following successful openings across the UK and the implementation of sustainability initiatives like its beauty recycling scheme, this sixth location demonstrates Harrods' strategy of revitalising former department store spaces. The transformation of the historic Debenhams/Browns of Chester building aligns with broader industry trends of repurposing retail heritage sites for modern specialty retail concepts.

Harrods plans 6th H Beauty store in ex-Debenhams space