A £25 million upgrade will see new Matalan shops open in Hampshire.

The fashion and homeware chain has announced its "transformation programme" will include opening 10 new and relocated shops across the UK.

These will be in Hampshire, London, Essex, and Northern Ireland.

The programme will also see the upgrade of 30 existing shops across the country, including some in Hampshire.

These changes will include more defined departments, fitting rooms and tills relocated to a single area, and modernised checkout areas in some shops with faster self-service tills.

The chain has about 265 shops across the UK and overseas, including at West Quay Retail Park, Woodside Avenue in Eastleigh, and Collingwood Retail Park in Fareham.



James Dorling, Matalan’s property director, said: "Matalan storefronts have been a fixture of UK communities for 40 years, so it is only right that bricks-and-mortar retail remains at the centre of our transformation programme.

"With 10 exciting new store openings and extensive refurbishments across our estate, this investment marks a step-change in our strategy – creating a better, more seamless shopping experience for our loyal existing customers, while also introducing the Matalan brand to new consumers."

Matalan also revealed it would be launching a new app for shopping and loyalty rewards.

Newly revamped stores in locations including Croydon, Bristol, and Dumfries have benefited from a stronger-than-expected jump in sales, the company said.

It came under new ownership at the start of 2023 after a group of lenders took control from founder John Hargreaves, who set up the company in 1985.

The group, led by Invesco, Man GLG, Napier Park, and Tresidor, took the reins of the fashion business after it had launched a sales process.

Matalan said it secured £25 million from its investors last month which it was using to fund the revamp of its store estate.