Inside Chester city centre's new 'luxurious' Harrods H Beauty store

Famed department store Harrods this week opened its first North West location - with the launch of its H Beauty concept inside a historic Chester city centre building. Harrods bosses have taken over a section of the old Browns of Chester department store - ironically once referred to as the "Harrods of the North" in its retail heyday.

H Beauty has breathed new life into one level of the building, accessed off the famous historic Rows on Eastgate Street with what it calls an "immersive beauty playground".. Draped with floral displays and a giant pink bow, store bosses made sure it's a flamboyant arrival to the city, with a host of beauty influencers among the first to get inside at a preview held ahead of its full opening on Thursday.

Store bosses say they have created a "dynamic new beauty destination designed to inspire, delight and elevate how customers experience beauty in Cheshire". As the brand’s seventh store across the UK, it boasts a host of the most luxurious brands in skincare, haircare, body care and fragrance, alongside brand-new treatments and exclusive services available only at this location, reports the MEN.

Beauty brands range from globally renowned icons to rising stars across skincare, makeup, haircare, and fragrance, including Dior with its own boutique, Charlotte Tilbury with a spectacular central seating area, as well Gisou, Color Wow, Creed, Ex Nihilo, Maison Crivelli, Hourglass, Tom Ford and more.

H beauty Chester also marks the debut of L’Occitane and Dr Belmeur, both joining the H beauty portfolio for the first time. The store further expands its exclusive offering with the arrival of Brow Spa, its first-ever partnership with H beauty and the only location to house the brand’s full brow services. It marked a special moment from Brow Spa founder Leisa Roberts who is from Chester.

Customers can also enjoy Sol de Janeiro’s ‘Make It Mine’ personalisation concept, available exclusively in-store, as well as discover the latest launches at interactive Play Tables and join live tutorials and workshops in the dedicated Masterclass Auditorium.

There's also a new EL&N Café that has opened at the front of the new H Beauty, offering its signatures coffees, smoothies, patisserie and an all-day brunch. While Harrods fans can also pick up a host of the famed store's branded giftwares - including its teddy bears, bags, biscuit tins and candles.

Mia Collins, Director of Beauty Buying at Harrods and H beauty says: "The launch of H beauty Chester is a significant milestone in our mission to bring beauty to more people across the UK. As our first North West store, located in Eastgate Square at the heart of the city, it demonstrates our investment in vibrant communities and our dedication to creating welcoming, inclusive spaces.

"Chester’s new H beauty will unite a friendly team of experts, effortless shopping and a truly luxurious beauty experience, an environment designed to inspire, uplift and celebrate the diverse ways people express themselves. We’re proud to bring an exceptional mix of brands, immersive experiences and personalised services to this dynamic community.”

Shoppers have been flocking to get their first look inside the redesigned space, which is a renowned Cheshire landmark. After almost 200 years as Browns, it became a Debenhams store in 1976, until closing down for good in 2021 and had been empty ever since. But the plans now for the vast multi-levelled space is for it to be carved up for use by different retailers, with H Beauty the first to open there on the old ground level.

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