Gap is making a comeback to the UK high street by launching three new standalone stores. The first flagship store will open in Covent Garden on November 6, followed by branches in Westfield London on December 4 and Wembley Park London Designer Outlet on December 12. Each store will showcase a variety of Gap clothing and collections.
In 1987, Gap initially entered the UK market and closed its last UK store in September 2021. Currently, Gap operates four shop-in-shop concepts within Next stores, located in Oxford Street, London, Braehead, Glasgow, and Trafford and Arndale shopping centers in Manchester. Additionally, Gap has over 40 concessions in Next stores across England and Ireland, with Next owning 51% and Gap owning 49% of the venture. Despite store closures, Gap has maintained its online presence.
In a statement made during the announcement of store closures in 2021, Gap mentioned market dynamics in the UK and Ireland as the reason behind the decision. The company expressed its commitment to supporting and assisting its colleagues during the transition period.
In other retail news, M&S has disclosed the opening date of its new flagship store in Bristol. The supermarket will inaugurate its new branch in Cabot Circus in Bristol city center on November 13. Spanning 80,000 sq ft across three floors, the store will offer M&S food, clothing, home, and beauty products. The foodhall will feature an in-store bakery, fresh market specials from M&S Select Farms, and a variety of sandwiches, salads, and wraps. The M&S coffee shop, with 200 seats, will serve freshly cooked breakfast items, toasties, wraps, sandwiches, barista-made coffee, and iced beverages.
M&S’ Bristol Cabot Circus store is part of a £300 million investment plan that includes the opening of sixteen M&S stores across the UK in the current financial year, such as Bath Southgate.