Next has opened its largest UK store at Bluewater Shopping Centre in Kent, tripling its footprint at the retail destination.
The new store occupies 132,000 sq ft, including 83,000 sq ft of trading space, and extends across two floors. It brings the retailer’s womenswear, menswear, childrenswear and home departments together in a single location, alongside a Costa café and dedicated Bath & Body Works concession.
Designed by global strategy and design studio Dalziel & Pow, the opening represents the latest stage in the development of Next’s current retail concept. The format is intended to make it easier for customers to discover products, collect orders and complete purchases while giving the retailer additional space to present its fashion and home ranges at Bluewater Shopping Centre.
Fashion And Home Across Two Floors
Each of the store’s principal departments has been given a distinct visual identity while remaining part of a consistent overall design language.
A neutral palette provides the backdrop across the store, with different colours used to distinguish departments and support navigation. Soft aqua is used within menswear, while warm pink blush defines womenswear and darker grey tones identify the Home department.
Glazed finishes have been introduced throughout the space to add depth and contrast, while variations in texture and tone give the individual departments their own character.
The approach allows each category to be recognised as a separate destination without dividing the store into visually disconnected areas.
Expanded Next Home Offer
Next has allocated additional space to its Home department, enabling the retailer to display a wider selection of furniture and homeware.
The department has direct access to Bluewater’s rear car park, providing a more practical collection route for customers purchasing larger furniture items.
This connection between the sales floor and parking area forms part of the wider emphasis on convenience within the store. The layout has been planned around the different stages of the customer journey, from browsing and product selection to collection and departure.
The expanded Home offer also gives Next an opportunity to present furniture in more complete room-style settings, supporting a longer and more exploratory visit than would be possible within its previous Bluewater unit.
Costa And Bath & Body Works Broaden The Offer
The store extends beyond Next’s core fashion and home departments through the inclusion of complementary food, drink and beauty offers.
A Costa café has been incorporated into the space, providing seating and a point for customers to pause during their visit.
Bath & Body Works operates from a dedicated concession with its own independent entrance. The arrangement gives the beauty and fragrance brand a distinct presence while connecting it to the wider Next store.
Lighting Supports Navigation And Product Presentation
Lighting forms a central part of the store design. Ambient and accent lighting have been layered throughout the two floors to create variation between departments and highlight products, displays and architectural features.
Lighting is integrated into ceiling details, display fixtures and other elements of the interior rather than being treated as a separate decorative layer.
Large atrium skylights also introduce natural daylight into the store. This works alongside the artificial lighting scheme to create a brighter environment and bring consistency to the different departments.
The material palette has been kept intentionally limited. Neutral surfaces are contrasted with stronger architectural forms, textures and colour accents, allowing the product ranges to remain the principal focus.
Dalziel & Pow said the materials were selected to create a familiar and comfortable setting while retaining a more elevated visual treatment.
Latest Stage In Next’s Store Programme
The Bluewater opening continues the rollout of Next’s reworked store concept across its UK estate.
Earlier applications included a Stratford City relaunch in 2024, followed by openings at Eldon Square in Newcastle, Canterbury and Ripon during 2025.
The individual stores have provided opportunities to develop the concept across different locations and building formats. At Bluewater, the larger footprint allows Next to bring its principal departments, an expanded furniture offer and complementary concessions together within one environment.
Dalziel & Pow has worked with Next as a design partner for more than 19 years, developing concepts to support the retailer’s changing physical estate.
The Bluewater store is the largest UK application of the current concept to date.
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