Primark reintroduces women-only fitting rooms

Primark will re-introduce women-only fitting rooms alongside combined changing spaces

Primark has said it would reintroduce "women-only" fitting rooms after concerns over combined changing spaces.

It follows an incident in Cambridge where a woman claimed two men walked in on her in a changing room.

In a statement on its website, the retailer also said curtains in cubicles would be lengthened and new mechanisms added to keep them in place.

Primark said it was "important for everyone to have a positive experience in their stores".

The company said combined fitting rooms will still be in place in their stores alongside the women-only changing rooms in 187 of 191 stores in the UK.

Primark said they were exploring other options in the remaining four, which only have one changing room area.

"The combined fitting room area is for everyone. The women-only area is for all women and customers are not required to provide identification," the retailer said.

"If someone appears to be deliberately trying to abuse the policy then the store will manage at their discretion. The changes we are introducing are informed by the feedback we have had from customers and colleagues.

"We have taken these steps to try to improve our customer experience whilst using our fitting rooms."

Last month, customer Charlotte Kirby posted a video on social media about how two men had walked in as she was trying on clothes in the Cambridge store.

Primark said: "We want our stores to be places where everyone feels safe and welcome.

"We're sorry to hear this hasn't been the experience some people have reported in our fitting rooms."

Staff would be trained in managing the fitting rooms and supporting customers, it said.

The company statement added: "It's really important to us that everyone has a positive experience in our stores. If they don't, we are committed to doing all we can to make things better.

"We'll be monitoring these changes closely and continuing to listen to our customers and colleagues," they said.

Story updated on 19 October 2022 in light of new information provided by Primark around the use of the changing rooms.