[AD] Holloways of Ludlow offers a new design destination for Bath

[disclosure: I was invited to Holloways of Ludlow Bath for the launch]

Housed in a Georgian townhouse with lofty ceilings and elegant period details, the new Holloways of Ludlow store in Bath offers two floors of the best Scandinavian and European designs. Formerly the home of Scandi favourite HAY, the central design destination now curates together a rich collection of lighting with contemporary furniture from the likes of Gubi, Northern, Carl Hansen & Son and Finn Juhl, amongst others.

You’ll still find a good chunk of popular HAY stock, but the new showroom, as CEO Mark Holloway says, ‘brings design closer to where people live’, allowing you to shop everything from a HAY toothbrush to a Wishbone chair. This high-low juxtaposition makes Holloways of Ludlow Bath universally appealing whatever your budget – come to browse the contemporary design, admire the beautiful setting, leave with a candle or coaster, and maybe come back one day for a sofa.

First and second to last images: Cate St Hill, all other images: Jim Holland

British retailer Holloways of Ludlow might be best known for its lighting collection (in a back room at the Bath store there’s every type of table lamp or pendant to suit your fancy), but furniture soon became a complementary focus for them. ‘I love the learning process, I’m a very inquisitive person and have been in the lighting industry for 15 years, to then get to know the richness and history of furniture design was very exciting,’ says Holloway.

In the Bath store, Holloways of Ludlow have a corner dedicated to up-and-coming Norwegian design brand Northern as well as exclusive, limited edition pieces on sale, such as a black stained version of Carl Hansen & Son’s Wishbone chair. Also on show are works by Danish artist Carsten Beck, created exclusively for Holloways of Ludlow, which add impact to the neutral space with their punchy geometric shapes and bold colours.

As well as Bath, Holloways of Ludlow also has stores in Hammersmith, Bermondsey, Brook Green and Kent, with Winchester next to open in April. Growing up with parents in architectural salvage and a grandmother who owned an antiques shop, bricks-and-mortar shops seem to be in Holloway’s blood. ‘I like having a shop,’ says Holloway. ‘There’s still a market that wants a showroom. I think too many people are focusing on online only and we as a business think we should look after the other half too.’

There is indeed something refreshing about stepping into a shop, seeing designs in person and feeling fabrics by touch, especially after two years mostly spent at home thanks to a certain panny-D. Holloways of Ludlow has put a bit of joy back into retail and gives you even more reason to book that city break to Bath.