Majestic, the UK’s largest specialist wine retailer, has identified 125 locations for potential new store openings across England, Scotland, Wales, and the Channel Islands as it accelerates its investment into experiential bricks-and-mortar retail.
Majestic aims to open an average of one new store per month in the coming years to attract new customers, drive sales, and increase market share. The retailer has drawn up a list of possible locations across the country, including almost 30 locations in Central London for smaller format sites, following the success of its ‘mini Majestic’ concept in Harpenden, Crouch End, and Marlow. Additionally, 14 areas inside the M25, 13 locations in the Midlands, seven in the North of England and Scotland, and three in Wales have been targeted for expansion.
Majestic is also considering opening its first store in Guernsey, just two months after launching its first Channel Islands store in Jersey. The Jersey opening brought Majestic’s portfolio to 208 shops, meaning that 90% of the UK population now lives within 10 miles of a Majestic store. The retailer seeks to get closer to existing customers and attract new shoppers by expanding its bricks-and-mortar estate, with plans to open around 50 new stores.
Since its split from Naked Wines plc and subsequent acquisition by Fortress Investment Group in December 2019, Majestic has focused on experiential retail and hospitality offerings. The retailer has invested in opening 17 new stores and refurbishing dozens more across the country. In April, Majestic acquired Vagabond Wines out of administration, saving nine of its wine bars from closure and securing 171 jobs.
To help accelerate its ambitious opening plans, Majestic has appointed Jackson Criss as its fully retained property agent to advise on new store acquisitions and estate strategy. Jackson Criss has already assisted with some of Majestic’s recent openings across the UK.
Majestic CEO John Colley said: “Experiential, bricks-and-mortar retailing is at the heart of what we do at Majestic, and we are committed to opening up to one new store per month during the coming years to help us reach even more customers across the UK. In addition to the new stores already in our pipeline for this year, we have identified more than 100 locations across the UK and the Channel Islands that we believe would be a perfect fit for Majestic. We are excited to start serving even more communities around the country and helping thousands of new customers discover wines, beers, and spirits they will love.”
Jackson Criss partner Dan Turner added: “It has been great working with Majestic on their recent acquisitions, and our team is excited to continue helping a best-in-class retailer grow their estate and invest further in bricks and mortar.”
Potential New Store Locations:
- London (27):
- Belgravia
- Belsize Park
- Camberwell
- Camden
- Clerkenwell
- Earlsfield
- Farringdon
- Hackney
- Hampstead
- Highgate
- Islington (relocation)
- Kensington/Chelsea
- Kilburn
- Ladbroke Grove
- Paddington
- Pimlico
- Primrose Hill
- Putney (relocation)
- Southbank
- Southwark
- Southfields
- Wandsworth
- Westbourne Grove
- Spitalfields
- The Oval
- West Hampstead
- Wimbledon (relocation)
- Inside M25 (14):
- Acton (relocation)
- Banstead
- Biggin Hill
- Bushey
- Ealing (relocation)
- Epsom (relocation)
- Harrow
- Mill Hill
- Pinner
- Rickmansworth
- Southgate
- Staines
- Stanmore
- Watford
- East (12):
- Bedford
- Borehamwood
- Cambridge
- Elstree
- Ely
- Epping
- Martlesham Heath
- Radlett
- Saffron Walden
- St Ives
- St Neots
- Woodbridge
- South East (32):
- Ashford, Kent
- Brackley
- Buckingham
- Camberley
- Caversham (relocation)
- Chandlers Ford
- Chipping Norton
- Chipping Sodbury
- Crowborough
- Eastbourne
- Eastleigh
- Fareham
- Farnborough
- Frimley
- Heathfield
- Hitchin
- Horsham (relocation)
- Locks Heath
- Letchworth
- Maidstone
- Oxted
- Pangbourne (relocation)
- Reading West (relocation)
- Romsey
- Thame
- Towcester
- Uckfield
- Wallingford
- Wantage
- Whiteley
- Woodstock
- Worthing (relocation)
- North (7):
- Durham
- Isle of Man
- Morpeth
- Prestwich
- Sandbach
- Wetherby
- Whitefield
- South West (16):
- Bournemouth
- Bristol (relocation)
- Ferndown, Dorset
- Gillingham, Dorset
- Hayle
- Kingsbridge
- Launceston
- Plymouth
- Ringwood
- Shaftesbury
- Trowbridge
- Truro
- Wadebridge
- Warminster
- Wells
- Wimborne Minster
- East Midlands (5):
- Buxton
- Melton Mowbray
- Oadby
- Oakham
- Stamford
- West Midlands (8):
- Bridgnorth
- Bromsgrove
- Kenilworth
- Knowle
- Malvern
- Moseley, West Midlands
- Solihull
- South Coventry
- Wales (3):
- Penarth
- Swansea (Water Road) (relocation)
- The Mumbles (relocation)
- Channel Islands (1):
- Guernsey
