This shopping centre is similar to every other shopping centre - the usual suspects dominate, but unwelcome change may be imminent with Brexit, Wu flu and repeated lockdowns (imposed by politicians who don't know much what they are doing) as Debenhams - which is a key anchor in many shopping centres including his place - has hit the wall along with Bonmarchè, Topshop, Topman, Peacocks, Jaeger, Edinburgh Woollen Mills, DW Sports, Peter Jones, Bensons for Beds, Harvey's furniture and sadly many more.
Looks like lots of empty spaces ahead, with no clear way of seeing how these empty stores will be filled, even in the longer term. The business model for these centres was to focus on the big chain store operators where rent was easy, and set rents so high that the small independents hadn't a prayer, although this centre has a few smaller players like a barbers, and Paolo Pizza.
It is making another blunder in its food court - it has an O' Brien's sandwich bar as well as a Supermacs (both Irish-branded with the latter possibly the only one in Northern Ireland) but it is allowing the Yangtze Chinese food bar to lower its quality while increasing prices. I know once contracts are signed the deal is done but the centre should be concerned about its reputation and should have the ability to intervene when a tenant starts to sell rubbish food.
I ended up getting a flat white in their O Brien's, which was poor tasting - only the queue outside Starbucks put me off going there and after tasting the flat white I wish I had queued. I had tried the M&S cafe but it was closed.
I wouldn't rush back. read more