Shoppers were keen to go inside a new home and beauty store as it opened for the first time.

Next opened the new store in intu Watford this morning (October 2) and it replaces the former Debenhams store which closed earlier this year.

The new Next shop in Watford is one of four new 'concept' stores opening in the UK the coming months - the company says these stores aim to create a "premium retail environment for beauty".

Some people in the town were keen on shopping at the new store this morning, with a queue having started to form minutes before shoppers were allowed in for the first time.

The new store features two floors – the ground floor is where people can shop for homeware such as furniture and bedding, while the upper floor contains beauty products.

The site stocks several brands including; Armani Beauty, Bare Minerals, Benefit, Bobbi Brown, Chanel, Clarins, Clinique, Estee Lauder, GHD, Kiehls, Lancome, MAC, Too Faced, Urban Decay, and YSL as well as offer a range of premium beauty services.

Frances Hartley, who was shopping in the store this morning, said the new home and beauty store is “beautiful”.

Watford Observer:

The new Next Home & Beauty store

She said: “I thought that the homeware department was lovely, I really liked the colours and styles.

“I really hope the new store is here to stay.”

Another shopper named Elaine said: “It’s really nice inside, I only had a quick look but I am really impressed with the selection of things that they have got on offer.

“I always liked Debenhams but I do like this new Next store, I especially like the homeware stuff more than anything.”

Reporter James Cowen visited the new Next Home and Beauty store this morning

Ahead of going inside for the first time, one shopper called Terri said: “We’ve just moved to a new house so I’m after some home furnishing stuff from Next.

“It was sad to see Debenhams go but business has to carry on.”

Earlier this week Simon Wolfson, Next’s chief executive, said: "This is an exciting opportunity to work with existing and new beauty brand partners to create a new force in beauty retailing - bringing our online business to life through premium store environments in some of the UK’s most important retail locations."

When the Next deal was announced in August, intu Watford general manager Vicki Costello said: "We are delighted to make this announcement today and show that intu Watford continues to be a destination that brands want to invest in.

"This new partnership shows how important flagship destinations are to the future of retail. We are very impressed with Next’s ambition for its new concept.

"There are many positive movements in retail and confidence within the industry that will see further announcements and good news for our shoppers."