Next replaces closed Debenhams at intu Watford & intu Milton Keynes

Fashion retailer Next have announced they will be opening a new beauty store in the former Debenhams units in intu Watford and intu Milton Keynes.

Called ‘The Beauty Hall from Next’, the new concept store will open in units formerly occupied by Debenhams in both intu Watford and intu Milton Keynes. Next currently sells more than 200 beauty brands, including Estée Lauder, Clinique, Benefit, Elemis, Burberry, By Terry, Rituals, on its website, Next.co.uk, and additionally premium brands such as Bobbi Brown, YSL, Lancôme and Nars on sister site Fabled.com, which it bought from Ocado last year.

Many retailers are looking at ways to enter the lucrative beauty industry which is estimated to be £30 billion this year alone. The recent lockdown saw a rise in the demand for beauty products as beauticians and make-up artists downed tools.

Next already had plans to launch the new concept stores in five former Debenhams locations: the Bullring in Birmingham, The Oracle in Reading, Highcross in Leicester, Silverburn in Glasgow and Centrale in Croydon.

Next said it recognised the opportunity to develop an extensive premium beauty business after a successful online collaboration with Fabled by Marie Claire, which launched beauty on the retailer’s ecommerce site in October 2018.

More information on potential opening dates and more to come.