Brand new indepedent store and events space coming to Chester

ōH has been created by Openhome Design & Development and MONIKA Creative Studio and will arrive on Lower Bridge Street, with the double-fronted retail unit set within one of the city's three-storey Georgian rows properties. The store will comprise of homeware, furnishings, fashion and more.

The next 12 to 18 months will see the company start the conversion of the upper floors into "high quality, design-led apartments."

"These will be curated examples of purposeful lifestyle and culture living that we are promoting within the ōH ground floor retail experience," says Tony Swindells, co-founder of Openhome and the ōH concept.

"ōH is a concept lifestyle pop-up: a curated retail store and experience space, dedicated to fostering a community of inspired design lovers, coffee drinkers and conscious shoppers," says Monika Swindells, creative director at MONIKA Studio.

The space on Lower Bridge Street will also host Openhome & MONIKA's working and creative studio space - as well as providing an exclusive area for events, product launches and city-wide collaborations. All local businesses are welcome to utilise this fabulous new space for gatherings, celebrations, product launches or workshops, plus the ōH team will also be creating their own programme of unique events in collaboration with local marketing and events company We Love Good Times.

Jaunty Goat Coffee is also collaborating with the lifestyle brand on this project, bringing their expertise of speciality coffee as well as delivering live barista workshops for all, and sharing their sustainability story.

The in-store element will feature leading homeware designers and purposeful brands like Hay, Normann Copenhagen and Menu, with a unique and inspiring take on fashion thrown in as well.

The products will typically be of a handleable size that can be carried or driven away by local shoppers and city breakers. The range will include lights, small furniture, dinnerware, ceramics, decorative items, textiles, stationery and bathroom & kitchen accessories.

"ōH will also present a curated selection of art by the best local artists and a choice of designer prints from the The Wrong Shop. Shoppers will be introduced to bespoke fashion brand Bepo alongside high-end and pre-loved fashion. This blended shopping experience, celebrating and encouraging a conscious and sustainable lifestyle is something we are very passionate about," Monika explains.

"ōH is not for a specific demographic – it is more of an attitude. The brands we are featuring are striving for excellence in sustainability through the materials they use or the circular approach of the product journey," says Stephen Morris, co-founder of Openhome.

"Our store will be showcasing timeless selections, handpicked and curated by MONIKA Studio and unique to Chester and Cheshire. We want to bring a different perspective on design and a chance to purchase real gems, without the need to travel to Manchester or London," adds Monika.

"Customers will be able to learn about the products, chat with designers, sip lovingly prepared coffee with plenty of home and lifestyle inspiration. We are deliberately not planning online selling within the first months as we want to meet our customers in person."

ōH Store will open from early October.

For futher information on the concept, featured brands and events schedule visit: www.openhome.uk/oh-concept.