Next has opened the largest store in its UK portfolio at Bluewater shopping centre in Kent, occupying a footprint of 132,000 sq ft and promising an expanded product offer across clothing and homewares.
What the new store offers
The Bluewater outlet stocks the retailer’s full range of womenswear, menswear and childrenswear. A significantly enlarged home department occupies more than 20,000 sq ft and features curated roomsets from named partners including Laura Ashley, MADE and Rockett St George. The store also includes an on-site Costa Coffee café and will be the first to introduce Seraphine—a recent Next acquisition—into its womenswear offer.
- Full clothing ranges across womenswear, menswear and childrenswear
- Expanded homeware department (20,000+ sq ft) with branded roomsets
- On-site Costa Coffee and family-friendly opening events
- New brand introductions and a relocated Bath & Body Works nearby
Comments from Bluewater and Next
"This opening has been years in the making, so it's incredibly exciting to finally see Next open its doors," said James Waugh, centre director at Bluewater, describing the arrival as a "strong vote of confidence in the enduring appeal of bricks-and-mortar retail."
"We're incredibly excited to be opening the largest store across the Next portfolio at Bluewater Shopping Centre," said Terry Wetherell, store manager at Next Bluewater, praising staff effort ahead of the launch.
Retail context and local impact
The move forms part of a wider reconfiguration at Bluewater: global beauty brand Bath & Body Works has been relocated into a neighbouring 2,000 sq ft space, described as one of the brand’s early premium concept installations in the UK. Bluewater’s management framed the opening as an important milestone for the centre and for physical retail in general.
The new store is due to host family-friendly entertainment across its opening weekend, including face painting and appearances by Next’s mascot. While the precise staffing numbers for the new outlet were not disclosed in the announcement, the scale of the 132,000 sq ft site indicates a substantial retail operation with potential implications for local footfall, supply chains and employment.
| Feature | Size / Detail |
|---|---|
| Total store area | 132,000 sq ft |
| Homeware department | 20,000+ sq ft |
| Neighbouring Bath & Body Works | 2,000 sq ft |
What visitors should know
Guests visiting Bluewater over the opening period can expect additional family-oriented activities and in-store promotions. The new store’s extensive product range and dedicated home section will likely attract both regular Next customers and visitors from a wider catchment who use Bluewater as a regional shopping destination.
For local residents and shoppers, the opening reinforces Bluewater’s position as one of the county’s principal retail hubs and may influence shopping patterns in nearby high streets and retail parks.
Further practical information such as opening hours, parking arrangements and any special travel adjustments for the opening weekend were not included in the announcement; visitors are advised to check Bluewater’s and Next’s official channels for the latest updates.
