Waitrose says its newly refurbished store will mark the next stage in the "evolution” of hundreds of new supermarkets.

The Waitrose John Barnes in Finchley Road begins welcoming back customers today (August 21) after a six-week closure to revamp the inside with a new layout.

According to the supermarket giant, the new design will test concepts as part of its store investment programme, and will be the blueprint for more than 100 new UK shops planned in the next five years.

A record £1 billion will be reportedly invested into new shops as well as existing 150 stores over the next three years.

It will look at the upgrades in Finchley Road, as well as a revamp in Suffolk last year and a makeover in Maidenhead in autumn, to trial new services and product offerings over the next 12 months before a new blueprint for future shops is revealed in 2025.

New grab-and-go hot chicken counter in Finchley RoadNew grab-and-go hot chicken counter in Finchley Road (Image: Newsquest)

Improvements include upgrading service counters, giving greater prominence to its wine selection, flexibility to local demand, more third party collaboration and more dedicated space for online grocery orders.

Finchley Road is the first Waitrose to feature an entirely chilled department for white wines, champagne, rose and beer.

There’s also a new partnership with Crosstown doughnuts at its bakery.

The new Crosstown doughnut stand in Finchley RoadThe new Crosstown doughnut stand in Finchley Road (Image: Newsquest)

James Bailey, executive director for Waitrose, said:  “Waitrose will always offer fantastic food, but the groundwork we have undertaken behind the scenes in recent years means we can now focus on growth through new shops and ensuring our existing ones are providing great shopping experiences that match the quality of our products.

“The transformation of our Finchley Road store marks the next evolution of our journey to create a great shopping experience for our customers, underpinned by a high-quality product offering tailored to the local area, and the quality service we are synonymous with.

“In designing the store, we have taken time to understand how our customers like to shop, and used this knowledge to introduce new concepts that will be tested and rolled out nationally as we continue to work towards the Waitrose of the future.”