Neptune Attracts More Shoppers To Edgbaston Village

Neptune, the leading British interiors and lifestyle brand, has opened its largest UK store that offers 700 square meters (7,534 square feet) of retail space at 16-18 Harborne Road in Edgbaston Village on the Calthorpe Estate.

The store is located in a newly refurbished three storey red brick Edwardian building that provides an ideal setting for Neptune’s beautifully-made, solid timber kitchen designs, furniture collections, lighting and interior decorations.

Many of the original features, such as the double door entrance, cornicing, skirting and fireplaces have been retained and restored. A stunning cut-string staircase with brass inlays and a solid oak banister has been added along with a glass wrapped terrace on the top floor.

Established in 1996, first trading from a farm workshop in Wiltshire, Neptune has grown rapidly since then and increased its total number of aspirational retail outlets to 20 with the addition of Edgbaston.

Since it opened its doors on 22 September, many visitors have come to see the store and ranges, as Manager, Sarah McDonald explained: “Even before our official opening on 5 October we have welcomed many visitors that know of Neptune and were keen to see the new store. The feedback has been amazing with people loving the room sets and gaining inspiration from the way the store is set out and how there are design consultation areas.

“With such a fabulous, large store, we have been able to show the whole range and with the wonderful bay windows and fireplaces set out different kitchen designs and room looks. It is a great way to show how you can coordinate living rooms, bedrooms, bathrooms and kitchens.”

The new Neptune store is next to OKA, another leading British interiors and accessories brand, and together they are part of the new wave of home furnishings arriving in Edgbaston Village.

Calthorpe Estates, which marks its tricentenary this year and had the vision to create Edgbaston Village as a thriving leisure and lifestyle location, has invested in converting period properties that are being sought for high-end, independent and niche operators.

Harborne Road now has a stretch of new outlets, including Boston Tea Party that opened in July and The Physician that arrived last November.

Around the corner at Greenfield Crescent six new retail units are being completed to provide 81 to 343 square meters (871 to 3,692 square feet) of space. Two of the units have already attracted interest with new operators looking to take additional units this year.

The retail offering has been enhanced further along Islington Row with June Peony Bridal Couture, Laghis Italian deli and restaurant and Fabulous & Classy Nails taking units. More retail and leisure space has just been released at the new development, 54 George Road, just up from Five Ways station.

Matt Long, Portfolio Development Director at Calthorpe Estates said: “As we open more outlets, people are appreciating that we are offering an exciting opportunity for a completely different kind of Village destination that represents the very best of leisure and lifestyle brands. Edgbaston Village has already gained a nationwide reputation for some of the best food and eateries, we are enhancing the location by introducing new home outlets, wider retail and new leading health and beauty salons.”

SPACE, the specialist retail agency appointed for Edgbaston Village, began discussions with Neptune in 2014 and is currently in talks with a number of interested parties in preparation for occupation of the other newly refurbished properties.