Harrods confirms new life for Metrocentre ex-HoF store with H Beauty opening

By

Nigel TAYLOR

Published
Feb 1, 2022

Harrods is expanding its beauty business into northern England for the first time. The luxury London-based department store has confirmed it’s to open its first H Beauty store in the area at the Gateshead Metrocentre.

It will open within the 30,000 sq ft space left by the former House of Fraser store on the 'Town Square’. It is understood Harrods has signed a 20-year lease for part of the anchor unit that now has an “opening soon” sign attached to its hoardings.

Local press has described it as a “exciting” and a “highly-anticipated addition” to the mall that will “attract thousands of shoppers… as it offers something new”. Its arrival, complete with a champagne bar, comes to the mall that has also been boosted by key retailers JD Sports and H&M planning to move into bigger flagship units.

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The latest store will become Harrods’ fifth H Beauty store, adding to those in the Lakeside mall, Essex, Milton Keynes, and Edinburgh. Harrods has also confirmed a Bristol store will open in the spring. 

Although details of the latest North East store have yet to be revealed, they opening of the high-end banner will give a vote of confidence to both the mall and the region as the beauty sector strikes a successful chord at every level of consumer demand.

Graeme Jones of Sovereign Centros, the asset and development managers at the Metrocentre, described the move as “exciting for the centre's future”.

He said: "These lettings really reinforce how retail in these powerful major regional centres is changing, replacing the hitherto reliance on the old department store formats as anchors with new and exciting concepts and brands which will be much more interactive for the shopper. These quality fashion brands are a major draw for our customers. There is a lot more to come over the coming months with some other exciting lettings lined up.”