Ralph Lauren to open in Leeds for first time

By

Sandra Halliday

Published
Sep 11, 2018

Ralph Lauren is set to join the line-up at Hammerson’s Victoria Leeds property, with the shop being the label’s first store in one of Northern England’s biggest cities.

The new store will cover 2,000 sq ft in the centre’s Victoria Quarter and is adjacent to equally-strong high-end brands Mulberry and Louis Vuitton. 

The store design fuses “elements of collegiate sports mixed with the great outdoors.” Rustic oak flooring and planked wood wall panelling are combined with antique and vintage-inspired display cases and tables, and an “eclectic mix” of artwork and decorative props. The look is very much a reflection of the brand, conveying ideas of American classicism with a vein of modernity.

The two-year-old Victoria Quarter and Victoria Gate form part of Hammerson’s Victoria Leeds premium shopping offer and already have an appealing high-end line-up. As well as those neighbouring stores, they feature Harvey Nichols, John Lewis’s first store in the city, plus Aspinal of London, Penhaligon’s, and Seasalt, as well as a range of more upscale dining options such as The Ivy restaurant and brasserie brand.

Hammerson recently announced a strategy update in which it would focus on its flagship centres and Victoria Leeds is one of these, with its ability to attract strong tenants an example of the good commercial sense behind the strategy move.

Iain Mitchell, Hammerson’s UK Commercial Director, said: “Ralph Lauren represents another retail first for the city and is a superb addition to the existing line-up of aspirational and lifestyle brands at Victoria Leeds. Signings such as this demonstrate that demand from premium brands for high quality retail space in growing UK cities such as Leeds remains strong.”