Sephora continues to build its UK store portfolio with Manchester seen as a strategic part of its plans, warranting a second city store.

The French beauty giant said following “the immense success” of its Northern debut last spring with the opening of its first store outside of London at Manchester’s Trafford Centre, a second in is now scheduled for Manchester Arndale, the largest inner-city shopping destination.

The opening will become Sephora’s 10th UK store and follows other 2025 debuts at Liverpool One and Sheffield’s Meadowhall Shopping Centre.

Sarah Boyd, managing director, Sephora UK, said: “Manchester showed us phenomenal support when we opened our first store in the region, which blew away all our expectations. We are thrilled bringing a second beauty playground to our customers in this vibrant and culturally rich city, allowing us to reach even more shoppers with a city centre location at Arndale.

“We already know there is strong appetite from beauty enthusiasts in Manchester as we saw over 2,000 eager customers queue on our opening day last year, and we look forward to recreating the same energy at Arndale and to continue providing an unparalleled beauty experience like no other.”

Steve Gray, head of European Retail Asset Management at Global Mutual, joint asset managers alongside M&G Real Estate, added: “Sephora is an excellent addition to the Manchester Arndale line up as it cements our position as the go-to destination for beauty and fashion brands. The arrival of Sephora continues the strong momentum of international brands selecting Manchester Arndale as they expand their UK retail footprint. This highlights the confidence these retailers have in Manchester Arndale’s continued strong performance and how we continue to attract shoppers from across the North West and beyond.”