LS travel retail adds Watermark Bookstore to rail portfolio

The Watermark Bookstore will be Europe’s first, and is a breakthrough for LS travel retail


UK. LS travel retail UK & Ireland, which yesterday announced its return to the UK rail market with a store at London’s Cannon Street station, today revealed the planned opening of another rail outlet, at the redeveloped King’s Cross station. The 100sq m unit will house the first Watermark Bookstore in Europe. [Click here for the full list of tenancies at King’s Cross].

Fin Casey, Managing Director of LS travel retail UK & Ireland, said: “I am delighted that we are continuing to grow our relationship with Network Rail with this significant new opening at King’s Cross.

“We are always keen to bring new experiences to the travel retail market and are especially excited to launch our proven Watermark Bookstore concept into Europe for the first time. The new Watermark Bookstore will be adapted from the successful store concept operated by our sister companies in the Pacific and North America, and we are confident that it will set a new benchmark experience for the category.”

The format of the store has been adapted to the travel retail market in the UK


Network Rail Head of Retail Gavin McKechnie said: “We are thrilled to be welcoming Watermark Bookstore to the UK and as a new brand to King’s Cross. The Watermark Bookstore concept brings a new approach to book retailing that aligns well with the new and transformed King’s Cross station experience that we are creating for our passengers, with shopping that’s on the way, not in the way.

“The new retail and dining mix will be one of the best at a British station, which is great news for passengers and will complement the increased capacity and better facilities which will also be available.”

The store is said to be a “UK-specific interpretation” of LS travel retail’s Watermark Bookstore concept, which was originally adapted to the travel retail market at Sydney Airport (T3) by LS travel retail Pacific (and was the first dedicated airport bookstore in Australia).

The 100sq m unit at King’s Cross station gives impetus to the retailer’s new UK rail portfolio


Watermark is a brand already known to North American and Australasian travellers; pictured above is the New York LaGuardia Airport store, while the Sydney Airport unit features below



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