UK. BAA has completed a six-year project to create an additional 32,500sq ft (3,020sq m) of retail space at London Heathrow airport terminal three.
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T3’s place on the fashion map has even been attracting the attention of the fashion cognoscenti recently. Dubbed the “new Bond Street” in the UK Elle magazine, the project picked up the GQ magazine Travel Award 2003 for best tax free shopping in the world.
Shopping options have been expanded not only in fashion but across an eclectic range of sectors. These include Taste of Britain, a new speciality food concept by Caviar House, Waterford Wedgwood, David Clulow Opticians, Rolling Luggage and new food & beverage concepts ranging from a la carte at Chez Gerard to fast food at Bagel Street, selling 10,000 bagels per week.
The retail line-up has been expanded through the completion of the departures lounge extension outward to the apron area, which was two and a half years in the planning and three and a half year’s in construction. One final store, a full line Christian Dior outlet due to open in July, will complete the line-up.
The end result is an expanded retail space totalling 85,500sq ft (7,946 sq m) with superb quality of light, signposting and passenger flows, from the both the main entrance and security points and from transit areas.
At the same time, the facilities offer an improved experience for travellers, with 30% more seating, mostly in contemporary leather furniture in a light central atrium area which doubles as a coffee lounge, adjacent to Starbucks and La Brioche Dorée.
T3 now hosts almost 50 retailers. The most recent arrivals include UK lingerie specialist Rigby & Peller and a Kurt Geiger multi-brand shoes and leathergoods store. The roll-call of other brands includes the first airport stores for UK designer Paul Smith, who personally supervised the store concept complete with maps and travel trunks, and Pringle, which unveiled its new contemporary look.
Other highlights include Holland & Holland, Tumi, Thomas Pink, Gassan Diamonds, Swatch, Hermès, Lancôme, Liberty, Berry Bros & Rudd, Cartier, Caviar House, Cigar House, Ferragamo, Tumi, Burberry, Harrods (two stores), Books Plus, Gucci, Chanel, Folli-Follie, Escada, Hugo Boss, Zegna and the ever-popular FCUK alongside other young and funky brands such as MAC, Nike and Sunglass Hut.
World Duty Free also offers a department store – with a stunning curved walkway, product tastings and a new Gift Bar – and a second smaller gift-oriented store adjacent to the transit passenger entrance. The “supersite” brand focus area in the main store features a major perfumery launch every three weeks, currently Kingdom by Alexander McQueen.
The terminal forms three zones which flow naturally from one to the other: a mainstream “high street” area featuring UK favourites such as Dixons, Boots, Virgin Megastore and World News; a relaxing luxury brand area at the far end of the terminal and a space featuring the younger hot brands, all adjacent to an appropriate mix of food & beverage.
ON THE RECORD: “T3 IS AMONG THE PRIME REAL ESTATE SITES IN THE WORLD AND THIS DEVELOPMENT ENSURES THAT WE ARE MAKING THE MOST EFFECTIVE USE OF THAT SPACE” – BRIAN COLLIE
At a press briefing last week, BAA group retail director Brian Collie said he was delighted with the end result. “T3 is among the prime real estate sites in the world and this £100 million development ensures that we are making the most effective use of that space. We have worked particularly hard with our business partners and suppliers to create an unmatched experience for the traveller,” said Collie.
T3 is the second-busiest terminal at Heathrow with 17.3 million passengers per year, but it enjoys the highest average spend per passenger at £18 (US$19.90). A number of exclusives and retail firsts have contributed to this success, such as the Escada store, which is the first to stock both sportswear and fashionwear; the Rigby & Peller store, which carries beachwear and beach style shell jewellery not found in its London boutiques and Paul Smith’s women’s handmade silk sari shirt.
T3 also represents the single largest expansion project for BAA in the years leading up to the Heathrow T5 opening, which will itself create another 235,000sq ft (21,840sq m) leaseable area (two and a half times that of T3). In the next two years a T1 extension will create a new 40,00sq ft (3,717sq m) retail area and there will be a trade-off with long-haul flights from T4, to create easier connections for passengers.
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