Ottakar's heads for Ireland

Ottakar's is to open a branch in Lisburn, Northern Ireland. It will be the Salisbury-based chain's first move into the province, with several more locations already planned throughout Northern Ireland and Ireland.

Ottakar's managing director James Heneage said that no further sites had yet been signed, but he believed there to be opportunity for more than 20 shops throughout Ireland, split equally between the north and south.

Borders this week denied that it also planned an imminent move into the Irish market, which is currently dominated by Eason & Son and independent booksellers.

Mr Heneage said that Eason was "clearly well-established in Ireland. It could not open a great deal more stores in Ireland because it would be competing with itself, but there is room for other booksellers there."

In January, Eason gained a foothold in England by acquiring British Bookshops' 49 stores.

Ottakar's 4,000 sq ft Lisburn branch, on the town's high street, will open on 7th June. The town is in the Lagan Valley in Co Antrim.