It’s due to open in 2027Pete Gavan Senior Editor and Henry Saker-Clark PA Deputy Business Editor
00:01, 19 Jun 2025
(Image: (Image: Getty))
Waitrose has revealed plans to open its first full-size supermarket for seven years at Brabazon in Bristol.
Parent group the John Lewis Partnership said it has agreed a multi-million-pound deal to expand the supermarket arm further.
The new store is expected to open in Brabazon, a ‘new town’ in North Bristol, in 2027. Brabazon is at the former Filton Airfield and is being developed by Malaysian firm YTL, which has outline permission for 6,500 homes. It includes a new train station set to open next year.
There will also be a 19,000-seat arena, schools, offices, laboratories, hotels, pubs, community centres, a research campus, cafes and restaurants.
A CGI of what an arena at the Brabazon Hangars in Filton could look like(Image: Publicity Picture)
The 30,000 square foot Waitrose store, which is being developed in partnership with YTL Developments, will create around 150 jobs.
It will be the retailer’s first full-line supermarket opening since before the Covid pandemic, although it has expanded over the period through convenience and smaller franchise stores.
Waitrose is opeing a new supermarket in Bristol(Image: Patrickistock via Getty Images)
Waitrose is also set to open a new convenience store in The Arches in Bristol.
The Bristol opening is part of plans to invest £1 billion into new stores and improvements to 150 existing stores over the next three years.
James Bailey, managing director for Waitrose, said: “We are moving up a gear in store investment as we open in new locations and modernise our existing estate to bring the quality, service and value that customers love about Waitrose closer to more people.
A CGI of the Brabazon site(Image: YTL)
“Brabazon is one of the most exciting new city districts in the UK, driving the growth of one of the UK’s most vibrant and successful regional economies.
“Partnering with YTL Developments at Brabazon underlines our ambition and the opportunity we believe we have to grow our reach.”
Seb Loyn, planning and development director at YTL, said: “The arrival of Waitrose in 2027 is not only great news for the thriving community of new residents at Brabazon.
“It shows that this new city district is now firmly established as one of the most attractive destinations for both homebuyers and commercial investment in the South West.”