Wilmslow-based fashion firm Sosandar plc — run by former magazine publishers Ali Hall and Julie Lavington — announced it has signed a lease agreement for its third store, this time in Gateshead’s Metrocentre.

The store is expected to open in October in time for the Christmas trading period and will follow the opening of Sosandar’s first two stores in Chelmsford and Marlow in September.                     

Sosandar was formerly an online retailer.

“Metrocentre was visited by 14.4 million people in 2023, an increase on the prior year,” said Sosandar.

“Sosandar’s store will sit in the heart of Metrocentre’s Platinum Mall, which is home to higher-end and designer stores, alongside other highly regarded brands such as Jo Malone, Harrods’ H Beauty, and Hobbs.  

“This is the third store that Sosandar has signed this calendar year, with a number of others in the latter stages of legal processes and further prospective stores across a broader set of locations identified and under review.”

Hall and Lavington, co-CEOs at Sosandar, said: “We are pleased to announce the third location for our Sosandar stores.

“We have a strict criteria of opening stores in top tier, thriving locations where Sosandar customers over-index, and Metrocentre ticks all these boxes.

“Metrocentre has a reputation for hosting a versatile range of fashion retailers and we look forward to the official opening of our store in the coming months.”