LEFTIES opens second UK store at Lakeside
Inditex-owned fashion retailer LEFTIES has opened its second UK store at Lakeside shopping centre in Essex.
The retailer has opened a 36,000 sq ft space, offering a range of clothing, footwear, and accessories across its lines for women, men, and children. The store will also offer LEFTIES’ HOME Collection, a line that extends the brand’s products into textiles, décor, fragrances, and other home items.
LEFTIES at Lakeside also incorporates the brand’s new technological solutions designed to improve the customer experience and optimise store operations including assisted checkouts, smart fitting rooms, a robotic hanger sorter, and an automatic garment sorter.
The new store joins LEFTIES’ debut UK location at Liverpool ONE.
The brand’s arrival follows the opening of the nearby 12,500 sq ft Bershka store last month, increasing Inditex’s total footprint at Lakeside to over 125,000 sq ft, alongside its established brands Zara, Pull & Bear, and Stradivarius. These openings build on over £130 million of investment by retail occupiers at Lakeside since the beginning of 2024.
Robert Jewell, managing director of asset management at Pradera, said: “The opening of LEFTIES is a significant moment for Lakeside, and marks the next chapter in its evolution as a super-regional. The calibre of brands that the destination continues to attract is testament to the strategic leasing momentum that we have generated over the past few years, and this shows no sign of slowing down, with many more exciting signings on the horizon. With LEFTIES on board, Lakeside is well and truly on the map as the key lifestyle destination within the region, and a key player amongst the top super-regionals in the country.”
This news follows a number of fashion and lifestyle additions at Lakeside, including Oliver Bonas, Urban Outfitters, and Hollister, spanning a combined 16,500 sq ft.
Smith Young and LM are Lakeside’s retail leasing agents, while Metis and LM lead the leisure leasing. Pradera asset manages Lakeside on behalf of SGS UK Retail. Inditex represented itself for Lefties.