Ikea has opened its 19th UK store in Reading, marked by a tree-planting ceremony with Swedish ambassador Nicola Clase and Gillian Drakeford, IKEA UK & Ireland country retail manager.

The store will employ over 370 people across a 32,000 sq m store encompassing a 450-seater restaurant, a Swedish Food Market and over 50 room sets, specially designed from dedicated research in the Thames Valley area.

Ms Drakeford commented: “The opening of the IKEA Reading store marks the start of a significant period of growth for our business.

“We also have planning permission for a new store in Sheffield and outline planning permission to build stores in Greenwich and Exeter. This all form parts of our plans to make IKEA more accessible to more people and today is an important milestone.”