In pictures: ARKET opens in Bluewater

The H&M group opened its fourth ARKET store in the UK at major Kent shopping destination, Bluewater, over the weekend.

Based on the concept of the modern-day market, the store is arranged over 1,000 sq ft and features collections for women, children and home from its own label and around 50 selected partner brands. A second floor, which will include the men's collection, will be opened later this summer.

As well as the fashion and home products, the store includes a vegetarian café based on the New Nordic Food Manifesto.

ARKET made its global debut on London's Regent Street last August and further UK stores were subsequently opened in Covent Garden and Westfield Stratford. The Bluewater store is its first venture outside of the capital and the brand recently revealed that its fifth UK store would be located at Liverpool ONE and is due to open in the autumn.

"We chose London as the city to launch last autumn and have had a great reception in the UK during our first year. We’re very happy to have the opportunity to grow and meet new customers, and look forward to being part of the exciting diversity of brands at Bluewater,” said ARKET managing director Lars Axelsson.

Commenting on the opening, Russell Loveland, Senior Portfolio Director at Landsec, co-owner and asset manager of Bluewater, said: “ARKET is another significant international brand to open at Bluewater that not only adds to our premium offer, but reaffirms Bluewater's position as the first choice destination for leading retailers seeking to expand their presence in the UK.”

Significant openings at the Greenhithe shopping and leisure destination in the past year include regional debut stores for Kate Spade and Coach, online fast fashion brand Missguided's second standalone store and a new store for fast-growing brand QUIZ.