Laura Ashley to Reopen UK Flagship at Lakeside Five Years After Collapse
Iconic British lifestyle brand to open a 10,000 sq ft store in Thurrock in partnership with Next after acquisition by US owner Marquee Brands
Laura Ashley will return to the UK high street with a 10,000 square foot flagship store at the Lakeside shopping centre in Thurrock, Essex, five years after the business went into administration and closed about 150 stores.
The new store, reported by Retail Week and confirmed by the brand's new owner, will operate in partnership with Next and offer homeware, décor, women's fashion, sleepwear and children's clothing, with a dedicated design hub for made-to-measure fabrics, wallpaper and paint collections.
The revival follows the sale of Laura Ashley to Marquee Brands, the U.S. owner of Ben Sherman, completed about eight months ago. Marquee has described the relaunch as a refreshed retail concept intended to reintroduce the brand as a comprehensive lifestyle destination.
"Laura Ashley stores have always been destinations of inspiration, where consumers could explore and immerse themselves in the brand's world of design," Rachel Terrace, Marquee Brands' chief commercial and growth officer, said in a statement. "This opening represents a significant milestone in Laura Ashley's return to the UK retail market and signals the next phase of growth for the brand."
A Next spokesperson said the company was "excited" to be partnering on bringing the brand back to the high street.
The company originally founded by Welsh designer Laura Ashley in 1953 grew from home-sewn headscarves and napkins into an international fashion and homewares label, known for its flowing floral prints. Its fashion was widely worn in the 1970s and later benefited from high-profile admirers. The brand shifted toward homewares as a key revenue stream in later years.
Laura Ashley entered administration at the outset of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, a collapse that led to the closure of its physical store estate and left hundreds of employees without jobs. Marquee Brands said it planned to leverage the brand's licensed model and existing partners to expand the business across new platforms and categories. "We are primed and ready to leverage Laura Ashley's seven-decade legacy to unlock its future potential as a full lifestyle brand," Heath Golden, Marquee's chief executive officer, said at the time of the acquisition.
The Lakeside opening places Laura Ashley among several established British fashion names attempting returns to physical retail. Topshop has reopened as a concession in Liberty London and is slated to appear in 32 John Lewis stores next year, while Ted Baker has announced plans for a comeback in 2026.
Marquee and Laura Ashley have not provided a firm public opening date for the Lakeside flagship. The company described the store as part of a phased relaunch that will test a refreshed retail format and partnerships aimed at re-establishing the brand in the UK market.