Westgate Oxford has confirmed that global fashion brand Bershka will open its first Oxfordshire store at the centre later this year, marking a significant addition to its Upper Ground floor fashion line-up.
The new 11,000 sq ft store will sit alongside established retailers including H&M and Urban Outfitters, strengthening Westgate’s position as a key destination for international fashion brands in Oxford.
Part of the Inditex group, Bershka was founded in 1998 and has built its identity around trend-led fashion aimed at younger audiences with strong ties to music, digital culture and social media. The brand is widely recognised for its fast-moving collections that reflect emerging styles and cultural influences.
Its womenswear offering is split into two core lines: Bershka, which focuses on denim, casualwear and evening-ready fashion, and BSK, which draws on pop-culture-inspired design. Complementing this, Bershka Man delivers casualwear, sportswear and trend-led menswear, with accessories and footwear completing the store experience.
The arrival of Bershka is also set to bring new life to a prominent retail unit, with the brand expected to take over the former River Island space within the centre. River Island permanently closed its Westgate Oxford store on 31 January 2026, following a nationwide restructuring programme that saw the retailer shut a number of underperforming locations across the UK.
The vacancy has since formed part of Westgate’s wider repositioning strategy for its fashion offer, as the centre continues to attract international brands seeking larger flagship footprints in high-footfall urban locations.
Clare Martin, Centre Director at Westgate Oxford, said the addition reflects the centre’s ongoing ambition to expand its retail mix with sought-after names not currently available elsewhere in Oxfordshire.
“Here at Westgate Oxford, we are constantly looking to elevate our brand lineup to provide our guests with access to retailers that can’t be found elsewhere in Oxfordshire,” she said. “Bershka has been a highly-requested name, so we are thrilled to be welcoming them to our retail line-up. We look forward to sharing more details and an official opening date in due course.”
Landsec, which owns and operates Westgate Oxford, continues to invest in its portfolio of urban retail destinations across the UK, focusing on creating mixed-use spaces that combine retail, leisure and dining.
Westgate Oxford currently hosts more than 100 brands and over 30 food and drink outlets, alongside a growing leisure offer designed to attract both local visitors and tourists to the historic city centre.
