Following success of previous 'at home' openings, retailer announces £15.5m investment and opening of outlets in Exeter and Chester, taking total number of stores to six.

The Exeter branch will be the first new format shop to open in a city centre location, while Chester will be the first 'at home' to open in the north of England.

The format made its debut on a retail park on Mannings Heath Retail Park in Poole last October. Since then John Lewis has opened stores on the Purley Way, Croydon and at a designer outlet in Swindon. The fourth of its at home shops is set to open in Tunbridge Wells this month.

The move signals a combined investment of £15.5 million by John Lewis, with the new at home shops due to open in autumn 2011.

The two-storey Chester shop will be located on the edge of town Greyhound Retail Park, while the John Lewis at home in Exeter will occupy five floors of the former department store building on Sidwell Street.

John Lewis md Andy Street said: "We're thrilled to be opening more John Lewis at home shops in 2011 and extending our reach into new regions. The Exeter shop will be the first time a John Lewis has opened in Devon and Chester is the first 'at home' in the north. The 'at home' format has so far been trialled in out-of-town locations but Exeter will be our first city centre site. We are looking forward to contributing to the development of Exeter city centre and I'm confident the format will do really well in both cities."

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