The first Body Shop store opened by Dragon's Den investor Anita Roddick was in Brighton.
Roddick opened the shop in 1976 at 22 Kensington Gardens in Brighton, on England’s south coast. She began with a small range of cosmetics and toiletries, using refillable containers and distinctive product storytelling to create a retail identity unlike conventional beauty shops of the period.
The Brighton location became the starting point for the Body Shop’s expansion. The business grew in Britain and internationally, while its campaigns addressed subjects such as animal testing and human rights. Its early success helped make ethical positioning a significant part of modern cosmetics branding.
London is a tempting alternative because the company soon became a major national and international retailer, and later corporate offices were associated with the capital. The founding shop, however, was specifically in Brighton. Roddick later joined the original Dragon's Den panel, linking the city’s retail history with the programme’s investment history.