Barrhead Travel invests £300,000 in store refurb programme

As part of an ongoing programme of existing store refits and refurbishments, the group is planning investment in at least five of its Scottish stores this year. Its Braehead store completed its refurbishment in February while Dunfermline and East Kilbride will begin work this month.

Each location has undergone a complete transformation, with new branding, experience-led areas, a furniture refresh and updated store layout. As part of the group’s commitment to review its carbon footprint, each store will also be kitted out with energy-efficient technologies such as LED lighting, new screens, and HVAC heating and cooling systems.

Last year, the group made a £250,000 investment in refurbing some of its existing Scottish network. It says its refurb programme will run concurrently with its expansion plans which are expected to continue this year following the opening of a new location in November 2024 in Newtownabbey, Northern Ireland.  

Jacqueline Dobson, President of Barrhead Travel, said: “Bricks and mortar retail is the heart of our business. We’re fully committed to investing not only in new locations, but to ensure our existing stores have continued support. 

High street stores need to feel fresh and innovative to help promote high footfall and we’re determined to make sure we’re providing ongoing investment and job opportunities for the communities where we operate.”

She added: “Revamping our core Scottish locations reaffirms our commitment to the wider Scottish economy. It’s particularly exciting to be investing in the high street this year as we celebrate 50 years in business.

With demand for a reputable local travel agent at an all-time high, we’re excited to continue helping customers plan their travel plans during 2025.”

 Since it was founded in 1975, Barrhead Travel has expanded from a traditional ‘bucket and spade’ travel agent to a multi-faceted travel group offering bespoke holidays and cruises to all corners of the globe.

In addition to its retail network which spans over 90 locations across the UK, the group has a number of specialist divisions including Touring & Adventure, cruise and USA.

With a focus on people development, it operates its own in-house Training Academy which provides comprehensive training programmes for its colleagues. The group is an advocate for youth employment and operates its own Modern Apprenticeship programme.

The company has won many awards over the years, the most recent including Best Travel Agency in Scotland for 23 years running and Best UK Cruise Retail Agent. For the last two years, it has also been named as one of the Best Companies to work for.

Barrhead Travel sits within the leisure division of Internova Travel Group.

Credits by Asian Connect & Business Connect