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John Lewis is investing £50m this year across five stores as part of a long-term programme to upgrade all 36 shops in its estate.
Glasgow, Cambridge, Leicester, Reading and Liverpool will receive the latest round of investment. Glasgow’s store will take the largest share, with more than £20m earmarked for a full redevelopment of its 28,000 square metre branch, which John Lewis described as its biggest single-store investment in recent years. Every floor will be upgraded across fashion, beauty, home and technology, with the phased work running through to spring 2027 while the store remains open.
Cambridge, Leicester and Reading will each receive multi-million-pound refurbishments, while Liverpool will get further enhancements following investment last year, particularly on its beauty hall.
John Lewis Liverpool’s new beauty hall, completed August 2025
Part of an £800m transformation
The £50m spend is the latest phase of an £800m multi-year programme covering stores, services, technology and hospitality. The retailer said every John Lewis shop would receive investment over time, designed to respond to changing customer expectations around inspiration, expert advice and cross-channel shopping.
John Lewis pointed to a series of operating indicators to support the continued spend. Refurbished stores have “consistently achieved sales growth” following investment, the company said, alongside improvements in customer satisfaction. Last year, the retailer hosted a record number of in-store appointments across services including personal styling and nursery advice.
John Lewis Oxford Street: refurbished womenswear floor, completed February 2026
Hospitality has become a growing part of the store proposition. Food and drink now accounts for more than one in five store transactions, with John Lewis reporting 10% sales growth across its 62 cafés and restaurants over the past year. The retailer is rolling out its new own-brand Platter John Lewis concept, developed with hospitality operator Benugo, across 32 locations by the end of 2027, as previously reported by TheIndustry.fashion.
Omnichannel positioning
John Lewis managing director Peter Ruis said: “Whether customers shop with us online, in our shops or across both, they expect the same trusted advice, service and experience.”
“We’re continuing to invest across our estate so our shops reflect the things customers value most about John Lewis, expert guidance, inspiring products and the confidence to make the right choice. These investments are about creating places where customers love to spend their time.”
The store investments sit alongside broader recent activity at John Lewis, which has included the appointment of a new Fashion Creative Director (Jacqui Markham), expansion of its own-brand ranges, an overhaul of its loyalty programme and investment in AI-powered shopping tools.
Kathy Murdoch, Centre Director for Buchanan Galleries at Landsec, which houses the Glasgow store, said the £20m commitment complemented Landsec’s own plans for the centre. Blair McDougall, UK Minister for Small Business and Economic Transformation, called the investment “a strong vote of confidence in our high streets.”
Main image: John Lewis, Buchanan Galleries Glasgow