Sephora further solidified its presence in the UK by launching new stores in Cardiff, Oxford, Sheffield, Liverpool ONE, and Manchester this year. This expansion marked a significant step forward in the global retailer's growing footprint across the region.
In Review 2025: Store openings, refurbs and expansions
Sophie Smith
31 December 2025
2025 has been a year of transformation in the beauty industry, with brands and retailers expanding their footprints - launching new stores, upgrading existing locations, and growing their presence across key markets.
TheIndustry.beauty takes a closer look at the standout UK store openings, renovations, and expansions that defined the year - from a Space NK flagship and Boots’ new fragrance concept to Made by Mitchell’s debut store, and more.
New flagships & concepts
Boots launches first luxury fragrance concept store
Boots opened a new fragrance concept at Broadgate Central in London, housing over 400 luxury and niche scents in a space that marked a major move beyond its traditional beauty halls. As part of this, expert fragrance specialists are on hand for personalised consultations, helping visitors find scents that reflected their individual style, while bespoke offerings such as the Signature Scent Experience and the Wedding Fragrance Experience provide tailored experiences.
Space NK opens major new flagship at London's Oxford Circus
Space NK turned heads once again with the opening of a flagship store concept in London’s Oxford Circus in August. The new concept is designed to meet the evolving needs and desires of its customers. As part of this, the flagship store showcases a curated selection of new brands, exclusive product launches, and beloved favourites - offering customers the opportunity to "discover the very best of beauty".
Liberty unveils new beauty studio concept
Liberty unveiled The Beauty Studio, a new concept space dedicated to creative beauty exploration and avant-garde wellness, marking the next chapter in the department store’s beauty evolution. Located next to the renowned Beauty Hall at the Carnaby Street entrance, The Beauty Studio brings together brands that are redefining beauty and wellbeing, with a focus on immersive experiences and curated exclusives.
Neom opens ‘Global Wellbeing Hub’ at landmark London flagship
British brand Neom debuted its Global Wellbeing Hub concept in London, opening a new flagship store at 143 Regent Street this autumn. The store marked a "key milestone" in the brand's global expansion, coinciding with its 20th anniversary this year. The elevated concept allows visitors to explore Neom's growing range of wellbeing products, "bringing an oasis of calm to London’s busiest shopping street".
Rituals 'redefines' wellness with first UK Mind Oasis
Rituals opened its 'Mind Oasis' on London’s Oxford Street, marking the UK debut of the concept after launches in Amsterdam, Paris, and Barcelona. The space offers visitors a place to pause, reset, and reconnect, combining evidence-based relaxation treatments with immersive, sensory-led design. Visitors can take part in sessions promoting mental relaxation and physical restoration through multi-sensory experiences and mindfulness practices, reflecting a shift towards experiential, wellbeing-focused retail.
Skin Cupid opens debut UK flagship
K-beauty retailer Skin Cupid opened its first permanent flagship store in London, becoming what it describes as "the largest and most premium Asian beauty destination in the UK". The store is located at Ilona Rose House, on the corner of Charing Cross Road and Manette Street - just a three-minute walk from Tottenham Court Road station.
Superdrug unveils new 'beauty playground' concept in Manchester
Superdrug unveiled a new 'beauty playground' concept at the Manchester Trafford Centre, forming part of a 30-store nationwide rollout. The initiative aims to deliver "industry-leading" beauty experiences, allowing customers to explore must-have brands, access beauty services, receive expert advice, and create content while they shop.
Charlotte Tilbury opens biggest-ever store with debut 'Skin Spa'
Charlotte Tilbury opened a new flagship in London's Covent Garden, marking its biggest-ever store and the debut of its first-ever Skin Spa. Relocating from its existing neighbourhood boutique to a larger, more prominent unit, the store opened on the corner of the Royal Opera House and James Street earlier this year.
Byredo relocates to Covent Garden with new two-storey flagship
Byredo relocated its flagship store to Covent Garden in London, marking a new chapter for the luxury fragrance brand in the capital. Spread across two floors, the store reflects Byredo’s full universe, bringing together fragrance, beauty and design in a curated environment. The opening marked a relocation from the brand's previous store at 40 Lexington Street in London, which closed in October 2025.
Aesop opens first-ever outlet store at Bicester Village
Luxury skincare brand Aesop opened its first-ever outlet store, marking a major milestone for the cult Australian label. The boutique landed in Bicester Village, the outlet known for its roster of luxury brands offered at reduced prices. This move brought Aesop’s full collection of skincare, body, haircare, and home fragrance to Oxfordshire, offering its famously premium products at up to 70% off their original retail prices.
Dolce & Gabbana opens 'first-of-its-kind' beauty boutique in Covent Garden
Dolce & Gabbana opened its first beauty boutique in London’s Covent Garden. The space features the luxury brand's exclusive selection of cosmetics and signature fragrance collections, as well as a makeup consultation area. Fitted out with gold panelling and monochrome tiles, the décor blends the heritage charm of the Market Building with the brand's signature black and gold-infused Italian glamour.
Debut stores
Made by Mitchell selects Liverpool for first-ever store
Made by Mitchell opened its first store nearly five years after its launch. And where better to debut than in Liverpool, the city where it all began? Located in the Metquarter shopping centre, the store offers an immersive experience that captures the brand's bold, vibrant aesthetic and showcases its range of products, including popular blushes, highlighters, and eye makeup.
Aroma-Zone lands in UK at Westfield London
Aroma-Zone, renowned across France for its science-driven, natural approach to self-care, made its UK debut with the opening of its first-ever store at Westfield London. The store is designed to inspire exploration, making natural self-care simple, transparent, and personal. It features more than 500 natural products, offered beauty workshops, and showcased Aroma-Zone’s signature Booster Bar, ensuring that every element is crafted to help customers make informed and confident choices.choices.
Only Curls opens debut store as part of ongoing expansion
London-based haircare brand Only Curls opened its first-ever store. Located on a quiet street in South West London, the space serves as a hybrid shop and office. It offers customers the opportunity to browse and purchase products and features a mini salon area for pop-up appointments with hairdressers using the brand’s products. Meanwhile, the office accommodates the Only Curls team and includes a dedicated studio for producing all of its curl education content.
Refurbs
Holland & Barrett unveils beauty category overhaul with major store revamp
Holland & Barrett announced a "major transformation" to its beauty category in a bid to capture a larger share of the market. At the heart of this strategy is a reimagined definition of beauty, driven by a holistic "inside-out" approach that prioritises both efficacy and wellness. It also incorporates an in-store overhaul, alongside the introduction of branded display areas.
The Body Shop unveils new tech-driven store under next phase of transformation
The Body Shop opened a new store on London's Oxford Street, marking a significant step in its ongoing transformation. The space at 391 Oxford Street showcases the brand's latest retail design and technology, combining interactive features with its long-standing commitment to ethical and naturally-inspired beauty.
John Lewis introduces revamped beauty hall concept backed by multi-million pound investment
John Lewis launched the nationwide rollout of its new beauty hall concept, supported by a multi-million-pound investment designed to "transform its stores into beauty discovery destinations". The move kicked off with the reopening of a revamped beauty hall in Liverpool.
Penhaligon’s reopens Regent Street flagship with refreshed design celebrating 155 years
Penhaligon’s reopened its flagship boutique on Regent Street following an extensive refurbishment, marking a new phase in the British fragrance house’s 155-year history. Designed in collaboration with interior architecture studio Michaelis Boyd, known for projects including Battersea Power Station and Soho Farmhouse, the revamped space is intended to reflect both the brand’s heritage and its contemporary direction.
Expansions
Marks & Spencer opens largest beauty hall yet at new Bristol flagship
Marks & Spencer returned to Bristol city centre with the opening of a new 80,000 sq ft flagship store at Cabot Circus. At the heart of the new store is the 2,700 sq ft beauty hall, designed to offer customers an "elevated shopping experience", where shoppers can expect over 70 brands and more than 5,000 products, including own brands such as Discover and Apothecary.
Byredo to open first standalone store outside of London
Luxury brand Byredo opened a new store at Victoria Leeds, marking its first UK location outside of London. Following its success as a concession within Harvey Nichols in Leeds, the brand signed for a 2,154 sq ft space at the shopping centre’s Victoria Quarter.
Selfridges unveils UK's biggest beauty hall outside London
Selfridges completed a major expansion of its beauty hall in Birmingham, now spanning 30,000 sq ft - making it the largest dedicated beauty space outside of London in the UK. The recent renovation expanded the department store’s beauty footprint by 20% and is set to be implemented in two key phases."
Sephora continues its UK expansion with store openings in key cities
