Published: Friday, 19th February, 2010 5:00pm

Major upgrade for John Lewis

by Alan Bunce

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READING'S John Lewis store is to get its biggest refurbishment since the shop became part of the partnership in 1953.

Starting with new escalators and lifts, the £14m revamp means every department will get a thorough makeover including new flooring and lighting.

Operations manager Dominic Joyce said: "This is a huge investment.

"It shows what we think of Reading as a town centre. With the redevelopment of the station and Station Hill, we are coming in on the back of that."

He said the Reading store will be brought up to the level of new stores such as the recently opened John Lewis in Cardiff.

He added: "The easy thing would have been to open a new shop but this is where we want to be.

"This is big enough, it's in the right location and this is where we are going to stay."

Audio and television is likely to be moved out of its basement location and a new concept, including several new brands, is promised in womenswear.

Work on the escalators has already begun and work on the lifts will start in March before some preparatory work on the departments.

The revamp will then stop in September to allow for the busy Christmas period.

In January 2011, work will start on each department until the likely completion in summer 2011. Some of the departments will be moved but detailed plans about any moves are still being drawn up.

More lines will be sold and more retail space will be created, including from store room areas which will form part of the revamped sales floors.

Dominic said: "Everyone is really on board with this.

"It will be really exciting over the next two years and everyone is up for making it happen."