Gap has revealed its plans to re-enter the UK retail market by launching three new standalone stores. The American fashion brand will kick off its comeback with the opening of a flagship store in Covent Garden on November 6, followed by additional outlets in Westfield London on December 4 and Wembley Park London Designer Outlet on December 12.
According to industry publication Drapers, each of these stores will showcase a variety of Gap clothing and collections. Gap initially entered the UK market back in 1987 and shut down its last UK store in September 2021.
Presently, Gap operates four shop-in-shop concepts within Next stores, including locations in Oxford Street, London, Braehead, Glasgow, and Trafford and Arndale shopping centers in Manchester. Additionally, Gap has over 40 concessions in Next stores throughout England and Ireland, with Next owning 51% of the venture and Gap holding 49%. Despite closing its physical stores, Gap has continued to conduct business online.
In a statement regarding its store closures in 2021, Gap expressed, “Due to market conditions in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland, we have informed our team about the planned closure of all company-operated Gap Specialty and Gap Outlet stores in the UK and Ireland in stages from the end of August through September 2021. We are working closely with our European team to support and assist our colleagues during this transition period.”
In other retail news, M&S has disclosed the opening date for its new flagship store in Bristol. The supermarket giant is set to inaugurate its Cabot Circus branch in Bristol city center on November 13. Spanning 80,000 square feet across three floors, the store will offer a wide range of M&S food, clothing, home, and beauty products.
Among its highlights, the foodhall will feature an in-store bakery, fresh market produce from M&S Select Farms, and a diverse selection of sandwiches, salads, and wraps. The M&S coffee shop, with seating for 200 people, will serve freshly prepared breakfast options, sandwiches, wraps, along with a variety of hot and cold beverages.
The Bristol Cabot Circus store is part of M&S’s strategic plan to open sixteen new outlets in the UK this fiscal year, including a store in Bath Southgate, as part of a significant £300 million investment initiative.