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Central London's John Bell & Croyden store was the winner of 'New Store of the Year' in the Retail Week Awards 2017, beating competition from John Lewis, Jigsaw, B&Q, and Mamas & Papas and other leading retailers.

The holder of the Royal Warrant, dating back to 1912, underwent a multi-million pound refurbishment in 2015.

The refurbishment of the heritage building to a modern pharmacy environment incorporated period style features and has antique pharmaceutical tools and storage vessels on display. A dedicated area for the Betterlife independent and mobility living aid range features a distinctive British Jaguar XF car boot on the wall, so customers can see how larger mobility products can fit into their cars.

The project moved an €uninspiring€ store to an iconic €future of pharmacy€, said Cormac Tobin, managing director of Celesio UK & Ireland.

€Now I believe John Bell & Croyden is the future of pharmacy; it is an icon in its field and we want our vision to set the new standard for pharmacies all over the world.€

The store showcases how pharmacy should be interacting with patients, he said.

€Its dedicated first care clinics and professional pharmacy teams engage with patients with authenticity and authority. It's a pharmacy that invests time into its patients and customers; recognising their needs and delivering them in an informed and efficient manner in beautiful surroundings.€

Retail Week judges congratulated the team on €a revamp fit for a Queen€, commenting: €pharmacy is a very difficult sector to bring alive with a really incredible experience, but John Bell & Croyden has done it€.

Robin Winfield, operations director at John Bell & Croyden, added: €The challenge throughout the refurbishment was to remain sympathetic to the store's heritage, but providing customers and patients with a contemporary twist to engage them throughout the shopping experience. I believe we have been successful in tying its heritage and the needs of the modern customer together.€