An independent clothing boutique selling international designer brands is opening a new flagship store in Bath.
Pockets Townhouse will open on Brock Street in a Grade I listed Georgian building, nestled between the Circus and the Royal Crescent.
It is the Midlands-based retailer's first branch in the West of England. The company, founded by Paul Platt in 1996, already has stores in Shrewsbury, Newcastle-under-lyme, Nantwich and Hanley, and employs a team of 30 staff.
Spanning three floors, the Bath boutique will stock a selection of luxury brands including Moncler, Ralph Lauren, Dries Van Noten, Barena, Stone Island and Max Mara.
The building鈥檚 original Georgian architecture and interiors have been maintained, offering an immersive shopping experience just a stone's throw from the high street. The boutique also features a variety of original abstract and illusionist artwork by Roy Osborne.
Mr Platt said: 鈥淏ath has the kind of character and independent spirit that we really value. Pockets will fit right in.
"Our approach has always been simple: sell exceptional products with exceptional service in an exceptional space which people want to come back to. I feel grateful that we're still here after almost 30 years, and I feel very sad a lot of our peers have gone.鈥
The opening follows the recent expansion of Pockets鈥 flagship store in Shrewsbury, which launched a dedicated womenswear offering in July.
Mr Platt added: 鈥淭here鈥檚 still something to be said about the power of physical space.
"Creating an environment where people can feel the fabrics, speak to experts, and experience truly great service. When done right, physical retail still offers something the internet can鈥檛, and I want to inspire a new generation of people to see that.鈥
The expansion comes at a time when independent retail is facing one of the toughest climates, with the Centre for Retail Research reporting more than 13,500 海角视频 shops closing in 2024 alone, and an estimated 14,660 independent stores predicted to shut in 2025.
