John Lewis announces £21m investment for Peterborough store

John Lewis & Partners has announced details of a £21 million investment and  refurbishment of its 93,000 sq ft Peterborough shop in the Queensgate Shopping Centre, due to be completed by January 2020.

The refurbishment will include an overhaul and reconfiguration of the entire shop with improvements being made to all departments alongside the addition of "exciting new features".

The investment in the shop forms part of John Lewis’s strategy to ensure its shops are destinations that offer an "outstanding experience" for its customers and a range of products which is increasingly unique to John Lewis.

While the work is taking place customers can take a virtual reality tour of their new-look shop using VR headsets that showcase all the shops new features, including the Style Studio, Experience Desk and Womenswear department.

Works are already underway behind the scenes to create a new Customer Collection Point, opening in August, that will be accompanied by a new external loading bay. This will offer both internal and external access for the collection point and will make collection easier for customers.

The upper ground floor will be home to an Experience Desk where specially trained Partners will provide a concierge-style service. These Partners will consult customers on their needs and help them book a number of different services that will be on offer in the shop from Personal Styling and Home Design to its Nursery Advice service.

In the new womenswear department, the retailer will introduce a "Style Studio", where customers can visit for a one-to-one personal styling appointment or a group style consultation. The Beauty Hall will see the introduction of new brands and a new beauty concierge-style service.

A new "The Place to Eat" will open with new decor and a new menu on the first floor. During the refurbishment, the current "The Place to Eat" will move to a temporary location on the first floor.

Gary Rowntree, Head of Branch at John Lewis & Partners Peterborough, said: “As retail is changing it is important for us to respond to the needs of our customers. The investment in the shop will create new and exciting experiences, while giving our customers in Peterborough a new level of personalised and curated shopping."

The refurbishment forms part of the £60m extension of Queensgate. Set to be complete by Autumn 2021, the 77,000 sq ft extension will be anchored by a ten-screen Empire Cinema and will create 200 job opportunities, adding 10% to the total number of people employed by Queensgate.

Guy Thomas, Head of Retail at Lendlease, commented: “The £60m extension, anchored by a ten-screen Empire Cinema, will sit alongside new restaurant brands and bring further opportunities whilst positioning Queensgate as a significant retail and leisure destination.

“The refurbishment works are just the initial phase of our plans. This is a very exciting time for Queensgate and the investment by retailers, such as John Lewis & Partners alongside new entrants to the scheme, signifies the strength of the regional catchment.”