Bluewater Announces Arrival of Three Kent Firsts Ahead of Festive Season

by | Oct 21, 2024 | Bluewater

Bluewater has announced that three retailers will be opening their first Kent-based stores in the run up to the festive season. Luxury cosmetics brand, Aesop, will be opening on 16th November, and Swedish fashion brand, Lindex, will open on 28th November, meanwhile the UK’s only Miffy store is now open. What’s more, outerwear brand Belstaff is also set to open at the centre on 24th October.

Australian luxury skincare brand, Aesop, will open its first signature store in Kent in a 968 sq ft space situated next to L’Occitane. The store will showcase a selection of fragrance, skin, hair and body care formulations, with efficacy and sensory pleasure in mind. The range paired with the brand consultant’s expert advice and product knowledge, aims to create a calming yet welcoming experience for guests in store.

Founded 70 years ago as a lingerie brand in Sweden, Lindex has transformed into an international fashion company with several different concepts. The 5,597 sq ft store will be the brand’s third UK store and the first in Kent. Located next to Superdry on the Upper Thames Walk, the new store is set to stock the brand’s array of womenswear and childrenswear.

The one-of-a-kind pop-up Miffy store is now open on the Upper Rose Gallery, near Starbuck and stocks the UK’s most extensive range of Miffy soft toys with over 60 colours, sizes, and fabrics to choose from. It also stocks the Heunec range of original Bruna Red and Blue Miffy toys, as well as homeware, apparel, jewellery, and gifts.

British modern heritage brand, Belstaff, will open its new store later this month in time for the festive shopping season. With over 100 years’ experience creating high quality performance outerwear, Belstaff’s offering today includes menswear, womenswear and accessories as well as the brand’s signature waxed cotton jackets. The Bluewater branch store design takes inspiration from the brand’s motoring history and recreates the ‘future garage’ concept seen in its Regent Street flagship.

James Waugh, Centre Director at Bluewater, commented: “We are delighted to be announcing the addition of these new stores to our line-up as we head towards the festive season. Aesop and Lindex choosing Bluewater as home for their first Kent stores further cements our position as a leading retail destination for the Southeast. We are about to embark on one of the busiest and most exciting times in Bluewater’s 25-year history and these openings will be followed by some other fantastic brands very soon.”

Ryad Djellas, Europe General Manager at Aesop, added: “Delivering exceptional service to our customers has been at the heart of Aesop since our beginnings in 1987. Our priority is to serve the needs of our customers by choosing sites that are convenient to them. Within this imperative, we consider not only well-trodden paths but also locations that carry the promise of fresh discovery or revival. Aesop Bluewater marks our first signature store in Kent, and an exciting opportunity connect with a network of customers across the southeast.

“With all Aesop spaces, we aim to add something of quality and value to the locale, and to deliver exceptional service through our consultants’ gracious hospitality and extensive product knowledge. Our in-house architects have created a totally unique design which offers a moment of respite within the already impressive Bluewater. We are looking forward to customers experiencing Aesop at Bluewater, next month.”

What’s more, Bluewater has announced that several pop-up stores have opened in the run up to festive season. The emporium for all things festive, Christmas Supermarket, has opened on the Upper Rose Gallery next to FatFace, meanwhile Calendar Club have also returned with a kiosk for guests to pick up 2025 calendars, diaries and planners, as well as stationery and books. They will also have a Fan Club which will stock official football merchandise from top Premier League and Scottish Premiership clubs.

For more information, please visit https://bluewater.co.uk/

SpaceNK announces first store opening for 2025, with a store planned to open in Bluewater, Kent.

SpaceNK is set to open its 77th store, located in Bluewater Shopping Centre on 17th April 2025. With a trading space of 2,760 sq. ft, the store will be located in Unit 132, Lower Guildhall within the centre. Adjacencies include Russell & Bromley, Hobbs,...

Government gives planning permission for National Highways’ Lower Thames Crossing

The government has today (25 March 2025) given planning permission for National Highways’ A122 Lower Thames Crossing project. The most significant road project in a generation will drive growth – the priority in the government’s Plan for Change – by tackling long...

Summer Youth Project 2025 Announced

Our Summer Youth Project will return to Dartford in 2025, taking place at Orchard West. SYP sees a cast of over 100 young performers, age 9-19, rehearse for two intense weeks in the Summer Holidays, before putting on a professional quality performance on our stage....

Dartford Borough Council opens new Council housing in Swanscombe

New homes have been opened in Swanscombe as the Council continues its programme of providing new social housing around the borough. Carreck Close, named after palaeontologist John Carreck who excavated a number of fossils from the nearby Barnfield Pit in the 1950’s,...

MINECRAFT’S EXCITING NEW INTERACTIVE AND IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCESET TO OPEN IN LONDON ON 4th APRIL 2025

OPENING IN A BRAND-NEW VENUE “CORNER CORNER” AT, CANADA WATER, LONDON, SE16 7LL Mine, Craft, and Battle Through Minecraft Experience: Villager Rescue, an In-Person, Immersive Adventure into Minecraft That Will Delight Fans of All Ages Presale Waitlist Opens 5th...

Bluewater hosts Made in Bluewater 2025 initiative, encouraging next generation to reimagine future of retail

Bluewater has hosted its enterprise challenge, ‘Made in Bluewater’, with two local schools. Made in Bluewater is a cross-school competition with students tasked with designing a brand-new community space for the city before going head to head in Dragons’ Den-style...

DARTFORD FC WOMEN | CLASS OF 2024-25 | MEET MEGHAN MCKEAG

Dartford hosted Hastings United at Bericote Powerhouse Princes Park on Saturday the 15th of March. Dartford FC Women defender Meghan McKeag featured in our matchday programme that afternoon. For those who missed it, here is the full article: SECTION ONEMeghan McKeag...

DARTFORD FC | CLASS OF 2024-25 | MEET LOUIS DUNNE

Dartford hosted Hastings United at Bericote Powerhouse Princes Park on Saturday. Louis Dunne featured in our matchday programme that afternoon. For those who missed it, here is the full article: SECTION ONELouis Dunne arrived on an initial two-month loan deal from...

Bring Back Eurostar Video

Dartford and Ashford Borough Councils have commissioned a short video campaigning for the return of Eurostar services to Ebbsfleet and Ashford International stations. Working with partners including Kent County Council, Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce, Visit Kent,...

Gladiators Ready! BBC brings the stars of the hit BBC One show ‘Gladiators’ to meet their fans at Bluewater Shopping Centre

Stars of the iconic BBC show Gladiators will be at Bluewater on Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd March taking over the Village Marquee for an exciting action packed immersive experience. Fans can meet with the stars of Gladiators, take exclusive photos, and try their...