Joint John Lewis at Home and Waitrose store opens in Horsham

At 9am this morning (18th June), the new co-located John Lewis at home and Waitrose Horsham shops opened their doors to customers for the first time. The 43,000 sq. ft John Lewis, located at Albion Way in Horsham, is the retailer’s 11th ‘at home’ shop and only the second co-located John Lewis and Waitrose development.

Hundreds of customers queued outside, eager to get in and explore the shops. Horsham customers will discover the first ever Home Hub, a dedicated area bringing together all of John Lewis’s home design services, and showcasing the retailer’s home interior products through a display of 11 room sets. In addition, the branch will offer customers an edited selection of 16,000 products across furniture, furnishing accessories, homeware, technology and nursery departments.

Waitrose will include new concepts and services, including a juice bar, wine and beer bar, a new bakery and an extensive wine department. The store will also feature new eat-in areas where customers will be able to enjoy tapas, deli platters and freshly baked goods.

A ribbon was cut by the branch managers Nigel Davis (John Lewis) and Jo Thomas (Waitrose), as well as representatives from local organisations that John Lewis at home is supporting as part of its charitable Community Matters scheme: Horsham Matters, Age UK Horsham and The Springboard Project.

Nigel Davis, branch manager of John Lewis at home Horsham, said: “It’s a very exciting day for us and I’m delighted to welcome our first customers through the doors. There has been a huge amount of planning and hard work involved to get us to this stage and I’m very proud of all the Partners involved. It’s great to see how excited our first customers are about the new branch and we look forward to seeing these faces again and again as they become regular visitors.”

Jo Thomas, branch manager of Waitrose Horsham, added: “Today is a day of mixed emotions! Whilst we’re hugely excited to be able to welcome customers to our new home at Albion Way, however we are a little sad to say goodbye to our home of over 25 years at Piries Place. Partners have worked very hard to ensure that the changeover to the new store has run smoothly and I’m delighted that the process has been such a success. The new shop co-located with John Lewis ‘At Home’ will enable us to deliver an even better shopping experience and bring together the best of the Partnership in one place.”

John Lewis at home and Waitrose Horsham brings John Lewis and Waitrose together in a unique way – it is the first time the two stores will share office space, a dining room and locker rooms. This joint-venture allows customers to shop at both John Lewis at home and Waitrose in one trip, and ‘at home’ customers will have the benefit of Waitrose’s catering facilities.

Source : John Lewis Partnership Press Release