Essex is about to get one of the biggest Zara shops in the whole country

A giant Zara store is coming to Essex in the new year.

The Zara at intu Lakeside is trebling in size to become one of the flagship shops in the south east.

Once it’s ready, the new Zara will measure 35,000 sq ft, meaning it will be among the largest Zara’s in the country.

Lakeside posted about the new store for the first time on their social media recently saying: “It's official. Get ready for one of the biggest ZARA stores in the South East of England.”

The new Zara will span two levels of the shopping centre and will be next to JD Sports on level one and next to Quiz on level 2.

The current Zara sells a range of women’s, men’s and children’s clothes and accessories. There's currently only one Zara in Essex although shoppers in Chelmsford have been calling for one in the city for years.

Zara will open its larger store in February 2019.

The new-look store is part of Lakeside’s multi-million pound transformation which is taking place over a couple of years.

River Island is also doubling the size and will be 21,000 sq ft when it’s ready. The new River Island will also be spread over two levels and will be adjacent to Dorothy Perkins on level one and H&M on level two.

River Island is expected to open shortly after Zara, early in the new year.

This follows H&M, which is also now twice as big as the old shop at 36,000 sq ft ,and Next which is now 70,000 sq ft after a huge refurbishment in 2017.

Rebecca Ryman, regional managing director at intu, said recently: “Zara and River Island’s investment in bigger and better space is a huge vote of confidence for the exciting future of intu Lakeside and this is mirrored by the number of fantastic brands also joining our line-up for the first time.

“Retailers like Zara and River Island have seen great success since opening with us and they clearly recognise the opportunities that lie ahead for intu Lakeside as a major retail and leisure destination.”

As part of Lakeside’s expansion plans, they are also building a £72m leisure complex on-site which will include a Nickelodeon-themed family entertainment centre, Hollywood Bowl, a Flip Out trampoline park and a Puttshack, which is said to transform the game of mini golf.

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