Shopper numbers at M The Galleries Washington have leapt 19% compared to the same point last year, according to figures released by the centre.
The boost coincides with a flurry of new store openings, headlined by fashion retailer Peacocks. The brand launched in Wessington Square next to Savers at 9am on Thursday 11 June, with television personality Charlotte Crosby cutting the ribbon and handing golden tickets worth £50 to the first ten customers. Sharron Lamb, retail director at Peacocks, described Crosby as a local icon and said the store’s summer collections would give families everything they need for the new season.
Other recent arrivals include Mobile Phone Essentials, which has moved to a larger unit beside the William Hill entrance, Alex Barbers next to the ASDA entrance, and Baytree Interiors on the ground floor near the bus station. The Works has also expanded into a bigger store in Albany Mall alongside The Fragrance Shop. Simon Eatough, director at LCP UK, which manages the centre on behalf of owner M Core, said there is “plenty more to come over the months ahead” and that the aim is to give the community more choice and a real reason to visit.
The growth follows a major redevelopment that has seen 30,000 square feet of under-used space transformed. Cantoro Lounge, a café-bar operated by Loungers, opened in December on a 15-year lease, creating 30 local jobs. A purpose-built Starbucks drive-through with seating for 52 and seven ultra-rapid electric vehicle chargers has also arrived, alongside a 10,812-square-foot Pure Gym.
M The Galleries marked its 50th anniversary in 2024, and Washington itself celebrated its 60th birthday the same year. The centre has previously won Green Apple Awards and been recognised for energy management. With shopfronts modernised and landscaping refreshed, management says the investment is about building a destination people want to return to.
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