Dunelm to take former John Lewis unit in Watford

Dunelm has agreed to take a vacant John Lewis unit at Watford’s Atria shopping centre, set to open later on this year.

John Lewis left the 33,000 sq ft unit in 2020 as part of the retailer’s store closure programme.

Dunelm’s arrival will mark the first time the retailer has taken a unit within the Watford shopping centre.

The new store will stock a range of products in bedding, outdoor living, home accessories, made-to-measure, haberdashery, kitchen and dining.

Dunelm says its sustainability credentials will be central to the new ranges, with a number of items coming from its ‘Conscious Choice’ range in which products are made with at least 50% recycled material. The store will also offer a “Textile Takeback” feature allowing customers to return unwanted products to be redistributed or recycled.

Steve Gray, head of European retail asset Management at scheme manager Global Mutual, said: “We’re continuing to diversify our brand mix. Dunelm is a new name for us, and its much-loved homewares will act as a real draw for customers as the store opens its doors later this year.”