Make Your Season Sparkle
In the run up to the festive season, we’re all on the look-out for thoughtful gift ideas for family and friends. So, writes Katie Hammond, why not treat yourself to an afternoon out, turning back the clock to the days of the traditional department store to tick off all the wishes on your Christmas list? Photography: Michael Porter
A historic set of buildings nestled in the beautiful West Lancashire village of Tarleton has a rich history in retail, having previously been home to a family furniture business, passed down through the generations.
Back in 2013, business partners Jonathan Addis and Simon Yates viewed and fell in love with what became The Courtyard and set about transforming it into a destination department store, filling it with sought after brands they knew their customers would love.
Jon explains: “We had already developed our flagship store, Ena Mill in Atherton, a former cotton mill which we completely transformed into 45,000 square feet of retail space.
“As soon as we saw the beautiful old buildings in Tarleton, built around the Grade II listed barn, we saw the potential for a similar destination shopping experience. Our philosophy has always been that we want to offer the best brands possible for the most affordable prices and this was very much what we wanted for The Courtyard.
“We also loved the idea of a quality department store as the whole ethos is that we can give our customers everything they are looking for under one roof, from women’s and menswear to gifts and beautiful things for the home – all with a traditional emphasis on old-fashioned customer service and an almost personalised shopping experience.”
Cut to today and Jon and Simon have seen their vision become reality, with The Courtyard now playing host to hundreds of ranges, including many ladies-wear brands such as Apricot, Klass and Tog24, footwear that includes Rieker and ever-popular homeware stalwarts such as Yankee Candle, Julian Charles and Catherine Lansfield. A similar concept, Millstores in Cleveleys, was successfully opened by the duo earlier this year.
Simon continues: “We wanted The Courtyard to become a true destination store, so our customers can enjoy an afternoon out browsing gifts, beautiful clothing and footwear, linens and bedding and then take a break from shopping to enjoy some of the fabulous food we have on offer in The Barn, our on-site fully licenced bistro and coffee shop. There’s something for everyone, with beautifully prepared food, ever-changing daily specials, cakes, coffees and snacks, all sourced from local suppliers. That’s something that has always been very important to us as we can work with and support other local businesses and be sure of the provenance of everything we are serving to our customers.”
Whilst the brands and the shopper’s whole experience of The Courtyard have been crucial to its success so far, as Jon and Simon are aware, particularly in the current financial climate, bargains and savings are more important to customers than ever.
Simon adds: “We work extremely hard to make sure our price points are accessible – this is particularly important in the run up to Christmas when money is tight for most households.
“We want customers to be able to shop safe in the knowledge that we pride ourselves on passing on as many savings as possible, so not only are they buying the best and most popular brands, they are also getting absolute bargains in the process – and who doesn’t love getting a great gift or buying that outfit for Christmas and getting a great deal at the same time?”
As Christmas approaches, it’s business as usual for The Courtyard team, ready to advise on everything from unique gift ideas for family and friends to festive occasion-wear and stunning decorations for the home.
With their gift department offering a choice of more than 4,000 cards, gifts can be chosen, purchased, wrapped and ready for Santa’s sack all in one go!
Open seven days a week, Monday to Saturday 10am to 5pm and Sunday 11am to 5pm and with customer parking on site as well as a huge free car park facing the store, it’s easy to see how shoppers make this beautiful department store shopping experience into a day out for all the family any time of the week and any day of the year.
Why not pay a visit and let The Courtyard take care of your family’s wish list this Christmas?
The Courtyard
94 Church Road
Tarleton, Preston PR4 6UP
01772 815068
courtyardtarleton.co.uk
