hold UPDATE 1-Britain's Next plans first beauty shops in former Debenhams stores

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LONDON, May 7 (Reuters) - British clothing retailer Next
said on Thursday it plans to open its first standalone
beauty shops by taking space in five former Debenhams stores,
seeking to diversify its offer into faster growing markets.

The move is a departure for Next, which has traditionally
sold clothes, homeware and beauty products altogether in its
stores. It's also a sign that retailers with robust finances can
take advantage of opportunities for future growth while weaker
rivals battle to survive during the coronavirus pandemic.

Struggling department store chain Debenhams said on
Wednesday it would not re-open five stores leased from landlord
Hammerson after failing to agree rent terms with the
mall operator.

All Debenhams and Next stores in Britain are currently
closed as part of the country's lockdown.

Next said it has signed new flexible leases with Hammerson
for the space in sites which include Bullring & Grand Central in
Birmingham and Highcross in Leicester, central England, as well
as Silverburn Glasgow in Scotland.

Next will trade the space as "The Beauty Hall from NEXT".

"This is another example of how we are repurposing
department store space," said Hammerson CEO David Atkins.

Next CEO Simon Wolfson said the deal was an opportunity to
"create a new force in beauty retailing."

Next said it aimed to create a premium retail environment
for beauty, to complement its existing online beauty business,
which sells over 200 beauty brands, including Estee Lauder,
Clinique and GHD.

Next said it is in talks to add a small number of further
sites.

It said it was likely that many of the former Debenhams'
beauty staff will get a job at Next.

Last month Next sold property, suspended share buybacks and
dividends and delivered higher cost savings to shore up its
finances. Its first quarter sales plunged 41%.

Shares in Next, down 33% so far this year, were up 0.9% at
0954 GMT, while Hammerson was down 6.3% near all-time lows. The
mall operator's shares have fallen more than 80% since December.
(Reporting by James Davey; Editing by Jan Harvey)