Next has had a store on the corner of Oxford Street and New Bond Street for a long time, and it seems to have been closed for ages. In fact, it has been undergoing a revamp since January, and last Friday it reopened

Next has had a store on the corner of Oxford Street and New Bond Street for a long time, and it seems to have been closed for ages. In fact, it has been undergoing a revamp since January, and last Friday it reopened.

In the process, it has expanded from 12,000 sq ft to 17,000 sq ft, mainly by opening up the basement and transforming it into a shoe department, throwing in a token smattering of homewares at the back of the shop.

The shoe department is probably the most interesting thing about the new store. It’s filled with curved new mid-shop display equipment, mirrored cubes and bright pink seating areas.

These fixtures may be a little bling, but it’s certainly eye-catching, and establishes the store as a destination when on the hunt for new shoes.

The staircase that links the ground floor with the basement and first-floor levels is also worthy of attention. This etched glass and steel confection succeeds in adding a dash of glamour to the whole enterprise.

Of course, the store benefits hugely from its position - it stands on the corner of two of London’s major shopping thoroughfares. This brings it considerable additional footfall - and also gives this branch of Next what must be one of the largest window frontages in relation to ground-floor footprint of any store along Oxford Street.

This renovation brings a familiar face smartly up to date, giving shoppers greater choice on this Oxford Street midpoint. All in all, this mid-market store pulls off that difficult trick of making volume selling attractive.