Cath Kidston is set to reopen on the high street after its 2020 administration.
- The first new store is scheduled to open in Westfield White City on 18 October.
- Next acquired Cath Kidston in 2023, marking a strategic return to physical retail.
- The brand shifted online with backing from Baring Private Equity Asia post-administration.
- Questions remain about future store openings as Next has not confirmed further plans.
Cath Kidston, the renowned British homeware retailer, is poised for a return to the high street after entering administration in 2020. This comeback marks a significant development following the brand’s acquisition by Next for £8.5 million in 2023.
The retailer is planning to open its initial new store at London’s Westfield White City on 18 October. A teaser on Instagram hinted at this new beginning by asking followers to guess the location of the upcoming store: ‘Why yes. Yes, you guessed right. We do indeed have a new home opening soon. Can anyone tell where in London we’ll be opening our doors?’
Cath Kidston’s journey post-administration involved a strategic pivot to online operations, supported by new funding from Baring Private Equity Asia, which allowed it to continue under a revised business model.
In 2022, Hilco acquired the brand before Next took ownership in 2023, indicating a series of strategic moves aimed at revitalisation and expansion.
Despite this promising development, Next has not confirmed whether it intends to open further Cath Kidston stores, leaving the brand’s high street future partially shrouded in uncertainty.
Cath Kidston’s return to the high street marks a new chapter in its retail journey, albeit with some uncertainty regarding future store expansions.
