Gap has made a comeback to the UK high street by launching three new standalone stores. The American clothing brand will unveil its flagship store in Covent Garden on November 6, with subsequent openings in Westfield London on December 4 and Wembley Park London Designer Outlet on December 12. Each store will carry a variety of Gap clothing and collections.
According to industry publication Drapers, Gap first entered the UK market in 1987 and shut down its last UK store in September 2021. Currently, Gap operates four shop-in-shop concepts within Next stores in locations such as Oxford Street in London, Braehead in Glasgow, and Trafford and Arndale shopping centers in Manchester. Additionally, Gap has more than 40 concessions in Next stores throughout 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 regarding the 2021 store closures, Gap mentioned market dynamics in the UK and Ireland as the reason for the decision. The company stated its plan to gradually close all company-operated Gap Specialty and Gap Outlet stores by the end of September 2021, while providing support and transition assistance to affected employees.
In other retail news, M&S has disclosed the opening date of its new flagship store in Bristol. The supermarket will inaugurate its 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. Additionally, the M&S coffee shop will accommodate 200 seats and serve breakfast items, toasties, wraps, sandwiches, barista-made coffee, and iced drinks.
The Bristol Cabot Circus store is part of M&S’s plan to open sixteen new stores across the UK this financial year, including Bath Southgate, as part of a £300 million investment.