Boots to open second beauty-only concept store as brands bet on Bristol

Boots will open its second beauty-only concept store in Bristol this spring, marking the first time the format will launch outside London following its debut at Battersea Power Station in 2023.

Located at Cabot Circus, the 11,000 sq ft space will bring together more than 200 established and emerging brands across skincare, haircare, fragrance, cosmetics, premium beauty and electrical beauty.

The brand mix will include Kylie Cosmetics, One/Size, Wonderskin and SheGlam, alongside new names not previously stocked by Boots, including several UK high street exclusives.

A dedicated area will focus on niche and independent fragrance brands, while a curated edit of premium beauty minis and a regularly updated “Trending on Social” selection will spotlight the latest viral products.

Responding to growing demand for South Korean beauty, the store will also feature an expanded Korean beauty offering, including brands such as Beauty of Joseon and Dr Reju-All.

In line with the increasing convergence of beauty and wellbeing, the Bristol location will introduce a Wellness Zone, bringing together ingestible beauty and wellness products - including collagen and supplements - from Boots Brands, Habi and Modern Chemistry.

Customers will also have access to free beauty services, including skin scans, as well as personalised wellness advice from Boots specialists. The opening is set to create 30 specialist roles, including derm-trained pharmacists and dedicated beauty and wellness advisors.

Paul Niezawitowski, Beauty Director at Boots, said: "Boots is the unrivalled home of beauty in the UK, and this new store gives us the perfect stage to showcase the best of Boots in one of the country’s most vibrant and creative cities.

"We hear a lot from customers that they want immersive shopping experiences, expert guidance and inspiration, and with price points from 50p to £500, our next beauty-only concept store certainly delivers on that and more. We’re delighted to bring to life this next exciting step in our beauty transformation."

The launch forms part of Boots’ accelerated beauty transformation programme, aimed at reshaping how customers discover beauty across its estate.

The Bristol opening builds on recent concept launches including the first Boots Beauty store at Battersea Power Station, the Boots Fragrance Boutique format and newly elevated wellness concepts introduced in six stores nationwide.

It also comes amid increased beauty retail activity in Bristol. Last week, Lookfantastic unveiled its second UK store at Cabot Circus, offering an experiential shopping environment that blends product discovery with expert services and community-focused initiatives.

Marks & Spencer returned to Bristol city centre last year with a new 80,000 sq ft flagship at Cabot Circus, featuring its largest beauty hall to date. Meanwhile, Harrods maintains a standalone H beauty store at Cribbs Causeway, further cementing the city’s growing profile as a beauty retail destination.

Shelley Taylor, Senior Asset Manager at Hammerson, said: "We’re proud to be partnering on the launch of Boots Beauty which has hand-picked Cabot Circus to kick off their national growth plans.

"Beauty and wellbeing is in high demand with our customers and this exciting new store format by Boots will offer never-seen-before products in the South West. With brands continuing to expand with us, it’s clear that Cabot Circus is the first choice for the newest, most exciting and relevant line-up for customers."