Bodycare continues return to UK high street with store number three opening in Leicester this Saturday
Health and beauty retailer Bodycare will open the doors to its third Studio Store at Highcross Leicester on Saturday 5th September. This builds on launches in Sheffield and Derby.
Last year, Bodycare closed all its stores after collapsing into adminstration. Its brand and intellectual property were acquired out of administration in late 2025 by an investor group led by former The Body Shop and Molton Brown CEO Charles Denton, and it is now aiming to open 15 UK stores in 2026, growing to 150 locations over the next five years.
At the heart of the Leicester location will be a free to use Creator Studio, giving local creators, influencers, charities, schools, clubs and community groups a professional space to create, collaborate and share their stories.
Denton says: “The welcome we’ve received since bringing Bodycare back to the high street has been incredible, and we’re absolutely delighted to be bringing our next-generation Studio Store to Leicester. Leicester is a city with a huge sense of identity, community and creativity, exactly the qualities we want to build into our new stores.”
“The Creator Studio gives local people and organisations a place to create, connect and have their voices heard, while our customers can discover great value, new experiences and the brands they know and love.”
Michelle Menezes, Centre Director at Highcross Leicester, says: “We’re absolutely delighted to welcome Bodycare back to Highcross. In the build up to its return, we’ve seen just how much Leicester truly loves this brand, thanks to its affordable health and beauty products.”
“Fans of the brand will notice a new offering in its ‘Bodycare Studio’ concept - made up of creator spaces and live broadcast studio that reflect exactly where high street retail is heading and the direction of travel we’re hoping to take the centre in. What makes this homecoming even more special though, is that we’re welcoming back some familiar faces to the store team from Bodycare’s previous time with us. It’s a real full-circle moment for us all, and we wish them the very best success.”
2026 RTIH Innovation Awards
Physical stores will be a key focus area at the 2026 RTIH Innovation Awards.
The awards are now open for entries and celebrate global retail technology innovation in a fast moving omnichannel world.
Our winners will be revealed at the 2026 RTIH Innovation Awards Ceremony, taking place at The HAC in Central London on Wednesday, 4th November.
Check out our 2025 winners here.
Our 2025 hall of fame entrants were revealed during a sold out event which took place at The HAC on 16th October and consisted of a drinks reception, three course meal, and awards ceremony presided over by award winning comedian, actress and writer Tiff Stevenson.
In his welcome speech, Scott Thompson, Founder and Editor, RTIH, said: “This is the awards’ fifth year as a physical event. We started off with just 30 people at the South Place Hotel not far from here, then moved to London Bridge Hotel, then The Barbican, and last year RIBA’s HQ in the West End.”
“But I’m conscious of the fact that, to quote the legend that is Taylor Swift, You’re only as hot as your last hit, baby. So, this year we’ve moved to our biggest venue yet, and also pulled in our largest number of entries to date and broken attendance records.”
He added: “This year’s submissions have without doubt been our best yet. To quote one of the judges: The examples of innovative developments across both traditional and digital retail spaces were truly remarkable.”
Congratulations to our winners, and a big thank you to our sponsors, judging panel, the legend that is Tiff Stevenson, and all those who attended our 2025 gathering.
