M&G and Warner Bros. brew up debut UK flagship Harry Potter store on Oxford Street
M&G has reached an agreement with Warner Bros. Global Experiences that will see the opening of the UK’s first flagship Harry Potter store on London’s Oxford Street.
The two-storey store will be located at The Ribbon, M&G’s £250m redevelopment, and feature licensed merchandise from the film series alongside interactive experiences.
Occupying a site once home to Victorian drapers, The Ribbon takes its name from Oxford Street’s fashion-led heritage. The site has undergone a multimillion pound redevelopment, backed by patient capital from M&G’s £130bn With‑Profits Fund, including the £68 billion PruFund.
M&G said the letting exemplifies the ‘shop-and-experience’ trend, where leading retailers vie for prime spots in central locations to create more social and immersive experiences. Research commissioned by M&G found that half of UK adults view dining and entertainment as essential to the shopping experience, with 62% citing leisure activities as a key reason for visiting towns and city centre.
Martin Towns, global head of real estate at M&G Real Estate, said: “London’s Oxford Street continues to attract world‑leading brands and we’re delighted to welcome Warner Bros. Discovery to The Ribbon later this year. The team behind this world‑class development is supporting the opening of the UK’s first flagship Harry Potter store through the scale and quality of space needed for modern, experience‑led retail. Across our global portfolio, demand is strong for best‑in‑class, prime‑located spaces that create resilient, income‑producing assets for years to come.”
Karl Durrant, senior vice president of worldwide retail at Warner Bros., added: “Warner Bros. Discovery is proud to open our first UK flagship Harry Potter Shop on Oxford Street, one of the world’s most renowned and esteemed shopping destinations. We appreciate the partnership with M&G on this new venture at The Ribbon. The shop will offer fans an original and unique retail experience in the centre of London.”