New IKEA Brighton store opens in Churchill Square
The shop will create 150 new jobs in the area
IKEA has today opened a new store in Brighton.
The opening of the store in Churchill Square Shopping Centre was celebrated with a ribbon cutting ceremony, attended by Councillor Amanda Grimshaw BEM, alongside the store’s 150 staff.
The first customers were able to explore the store as doors officially opened at 10am.
The opening forms part of IKEA’s strategy to expand its presence in city centres with smaller formats.
The new IKEA Brighton store spans 6,695 square metres of retail space across two storeys and IKEA says it's designed with the community at its heart, featuring five roomsets co-created with residents to reflect life at home in the city.
Customers can browse a curated selection of 2,600 home furnishing accessories and small furniture items, available for immediate purchase. For larger items, customers can order in-store from IKEA’s full range for home delivery or collection.
Karina Gilpin, IKEA Brighton's Market Manager said: “It is fantastic to officially open the doors of our IKEA Brighton store, in the heart of the city.
“We have had such a warm welcome from the community, and we loved celebrating the opening with our first customers today. This store represents our commitment to making IKEA more accessible to city residents. Whether customers visit to explore our inspiring roomsets, plan their dream spaces or simply to enjoy a taste of Sweden, we hope everyone feels at home here.”
Meeting Place Manager at Churchill Square, Ingka Centres, Mark Buchanan-Smith, said: "We’re incredibly excited to welcome IKEA to Churchill Square as it opens its very first store in Brighton.
"This long-anticipated moment marks a significant milestone for the city and reflects what our community has been asking for.
"IKEA will become a crucial part of our Meeting Place experience - helping us create a vibrant destination where people come together to shop, eat, and enjoy meaningful moments in the heart of Brighton & Hove.”
IKEA co-workers celebrated the store opening with customers.
Seagull mascots, a magician and music entertained customers as they queued to be among the first to enter the store.
After a ribbon cutting ceremony, a number of surprises awaited customers in-store, including live music, food and mocktail sampling, a ‘spin the wheel’ game with a range of IKEA vouchers and prizes to be won, and a beach-hut design competition for children.
The Brighton store marks IKEA’s third city-centre location in the UK, following the recent opening of IKEA Oxford Street in London.
IKEA Brighton will be open 10am-8pm Monday to Saturday, and 11am–5pm on Sunday.