A FAMOUS photography brand, revived by a celebrity tycoon, is set to open in Southampton bringing more than 15 jobs to the city.

The shutters are set to go up on a new Jessops store in Westquay shopping centre on June 16.

The brand was snapped up by Dragons Den entrepreneur Peter Jones after it went into administration in 2013.

The new store will sell the latest range of camera and specialist kit from brands including Canon, Nikon, Olympus and Sony along with an on-site lab for photo gifts and prints within the hour, a same day click and collect service.

Rob Murray, marketing director at Jessops, said: “We are delighted to be opening our new store in the heart of Southampton just in time for summer. We will have a fantastic team of passionate photographers and an exceptional range of cameras, kit and services.

“Southampton shoppers will be able to get hands-on with the latest and greatest photographic products and with our expert knowledge and advice, customers can be assured they will be getting the very best information out there. We look forward to welcoming all into the new store.”

Peter Jones, chairman of Jessops, who ploughed several million into reviving the business, added: “There is a huge and growing appetite for photography in the UK. At Jessops, we want to keep fuelling Britain’s passion for photography.

“Restoring this iconic British brand to the high street over the past four years and doubling the number of stores we originally opened has been an incredible journey.”

The company was originally founded in Leicester in 1935 by Frank Jessop and by 2001 there were more than 200 stores, making it the UK’s biggest photographic and camera retailer.

However, the company went into administration in January 2013 which forced the closure of all its 187 shops, including the store in East Street, Southampton.

The new Jessops store – the 57th in the UK – will be replacing Fone Customize on Level 2 of Westquay, between Timpsons and Nauticala.