Berghaus opens in Manchester Arndale

Berghaus opened its first-ever standalone shop in Manchester Arndale on 26 August 2026, and it’s pitched as more than another retail shelf — it’s a city gateway to the outdoors with a clear nod to Manchester’s music and street culture.

The store carries Berghaus’s latest collections, technical kit and even dog accessories, but the headline feature is a community hub that includes a “Repairhaus” where staff will mend well‑used gear free of charge. Events and talks are planned, aimed at turning a shop visit into a reason to hang out rather than just a transaction.

That community focus is central to the brand’s relaunch under Pentland. Bob Neville, Pentland’s global head of retail and the executive behind the new store, positions the opening as a deliberate reset for a label with deep northern roots.

"Brands go in cycles." — Bob Neville, Pentland’s global head of retail

Naturally, Manchester matters here beyond footfall: Berghaus was a street staple in the city during the 1990s when outdoor kit crossed into everyday youth style — Liam Gallagher famously wore a Berghaus jacket on stage in Oslo in 1997 — and the new store leans into that cultural hand‑in‑glove history.

The brand’s origin story is unshowy but solid: founders Peter Lockey and Gordon Davison started in Newcastle upon Tyne in 1966, building kit for climbers rather than just selling others’ products. Today’s opening featured Sir Chris Bonington and brand ambassador Ed Jackson cutting the ribbon, a symbolic tie to six decades of climbing credibility.

Behind the scenes, Pentland’s retail strategy is visible: the company has used wholesale widely in the past (it is a majority shareholder in JD Sports), and this first standalone shop is a try at reclaiming a direct relationship with customers so Berghaus’s heritage and technical credibility can be communicated in person.

For music fans and Manchester nostalgics, the shop is a reminder that street style and outdoor kit have long overlapped here. For anyone interested in gear that’s built to last, the Repairhaus and community programming signal a move toward authenticity rather than pure fast commerce — a practical reset for a 60‑year brand finding a place in a crowded outdoor market.