Liverpool ONE is set to welcome international toy retailer, POP MART, to the leading retail and entertainment destination, marking the brand’s biggest UK store to date and Liverpool debut.
Joining Liverpool ONE’s upper South John Street, POP MART’s newest addition will span 6,200 sq ft and will be situated close to fellow design-led lifestyle brands, KENJI and MINISO.
The store will stock the brand’s viral and collectable variety of blind boxes, spanning a range of popular POP MART only characters that include the likes of Hirono, Crybaby, Peach Riot, Kubo, Skullpanda, and the highly coveted, sell-out ranges of The Monsters, more commonly known as ‘Labubus’.
What exactly is Labubu?
Labubu is both a fictional character and the star of a cult toy brand. The name doesn’t actually mean anything — it belongs to a character from The Monsters series, dreamed up by Hong Kong-born artist Kasing Lung.
These quirky collectibles feature vinyl faces on soft, plush bodies, with their trademark pointy ears, wide eyes, and a mischievous grin showing exactly nine teeth. Loveable or strange? The internet remains split. POP MART describes Labubu as “kind-hearted and always wants to help, but often accidentally achieves the opposite.”
Labubu has appeared in numerous The Monsters collections, including Big into Energy, Have a Seat, Exciting Macaron and Fall in Wild. The wider Labubu universe also features other fan-favourite characters — like the tribe’s leader Zimomo, her boyfriend Tycoco, and her friend Mokoko — who have inspired their own popular figurines.
To casual observers, these toys might all look alike, but seasoned collectors can spot the differences instantly. That popularity has led to a wave of counterfeits, nicknamed “Lafufus,” flooding online marketplaces.
With POP MART opening its largest UK store at Liverpool ONE, fans in the city now have the perfect opportunity to get their hands on genuine Labubus — no Lafufu imposters in sight.
POP MART Liverpool ONE Store Opening
Rob Deacon, Director of Asset Management at Liverpool ONE – Landsec, commented: “With regular sell-out product launches, POP MART has proven a viral sensation, and the store is set to appeal to a wide range of consumers across the North West. The brand launching its biggest UK store yet will provide yet another distinct point of difference to the destination, reinforcing Liverpool ONE’s position as a go-to location for globally renowned brands and one of the leading retail and entertainment destinations in the UK.”
Peter Shipman, Managing Director of Europe at POP MART, added: “We’re working hard to extend POP MART to leading locations across the UK, and when it came to our next launch, Liverpool ONE was the clear choice. Liverpool is my hometown, so I’m especially excited about this opening. We know we will be welcomed with open arms, and we can’t wait to deliver products featuring the characters our customers know and love to a whole new city.”
POP MART continues a run of signings and openings at Liverpool ONE, with the destination celebrating its busiest year for store launches since 2008. Last month, MINISO made its Liverpool debut in a 3,000 sq ft store, following the long-awaited arrivals of Sephora, TFG London and Uniqlo. In total, Liverpool ONE is set to welcome over 25 brands totalling more than 100,000 sq ft in 2025, reflecting the strength of demand from occupiers and consumers alike.
POP MART Liverpool ONE Opening Date
The opening date for the POP MART Liverpool ONE store has not yet been announced. To keep up to date with when the POP MART Liverpool ONE store will open keep an eye on Liverpool ONE’s Instagram account @liverpool_oneofficial.
