Gloucester Quays promises 40 new top end shops and restaurants
FORTY more shops and restaurants are set for Gloucester Quays Designer Outlet as part of an expansion of the site.
One year after fashion guru Gok Wan opened it up with 39 stores, 60 units are now occupied and more high-end retailers are set to follow.
-
Quays staff celebrate the one year anniversary
Although bosses are tight-lipped on the new brands they're hoping to tempt high quality retailers.
The first 20 new shops and restaurants are part of phase one of the Quays expansion, and talks with retailers will take place between now and spring 2011 to get them on deals.
The next 20 retailers will arrive under phase two, of which negotiations will start the following year.
News of more stores comes as the £400million development in the High Orchard area of Gloucester Docks celebrates its first birthday today.
Lindsey Ashworth, of Peel Holdings, which owns the centre along with British Waterways, said: "Next spring is a point where some high-end fashion retailers may look at how good the Quays is. The names we have in mind act as a big pull from further afield.
"We have stores like Gap, Next, M&S and others which are very important to us and pull people in but we are looking at more high end for the future."
Mr Ashworth said he hoped more food outlets would be coming.
"We have Nando's and Pizza Express, but we want more and more variety. Quality is important though."
Gloucester Quays Designer Outlet was first mooted in 2002 and given the go-ahead as part of the wider Docks redevelopment in June 2006 by the office of then-Deputy PM John Prescott.
Former Gloucester Labour MP Parmjit Dhanda, wrote to his then-Government colleagues in 2005 with the Gloucester Heritage Urban Regeneration Company (GHURC) to prevent it stalling in the planning system.
"When I look back on my nine years at the helm, this is one of our achievements that I'm most proud of," said Mr Dhanda..
"It was tough doing the deal but the consequences of the deal for the whole area were over 1,000 local jobs. The investment an jobs will stand Gloucester in good stead for the future."
There were many doubters who feared the outlet would take trade from Gloucester city centre and Cheltenham. But it appears the opposite is true. King's Walk shopping centre saw a three per cent rise in footfall from April 2009 to April 2010.
And a spokeswoman for Cheltenham, Regent Arcade's said the centre was no threat.
Lindsay Jones, said: "There was obviously an initial interest in it when it opened but the profile of the shops is very different to the Regent Arcade."
Mark Owen, chairman of Marketing Gloucester and the city's branch of the Federation of Small Businesses, said patience is needed for the city to get what it deserves.
He said: "We need to respect our heritage and celebrate our history, but we need to remember what was there beforehand. Not just there but people forget what St Oswald's Park was like, or the old King's Square. There is still work to be done but people must remember it's a work in progress."
City council leader Paul James said quality is key, adding: "These outlet centres take several years to establish fully. The company running it has made it very clear they want to make sure they get the right quality, rather than filling it up for the sake of filling it up."
Traders are delighted with their first year at the outlet.
James Lock, Thorntons Store Manager at Gloucester Quays, said: "We've had a fantastic first year at Gloucester Quays.
"We're always busy doing chocolate tastings, demonstrations and competitions and we plan to do even more things like this over the coming year."
22 Comments
View all
by Kat, Gloucester
Saturday, May 22 2010, 10:22PM
“It is no longer £1 for an hour, hasn't anyone noticed that they have recently put the fee up to £2 for up to 2 hours?! I have stopped going there since this happened - there are not enough shops to occupy two hours (unless it's your first visit of course). As for the park & ride, I assumed it was the same as Chelt P&R (£2 per car*), and went with my husband, son & daughter. I was also charged for my 13-year old daughter, who was clearly a child! (*PS: Chelt P&R fare is now also per person - it is cheaper to park in Regent arcade if you are car-sharing)”
by disgruntled, GLOS
Saturday, May 22 2010, 8:11AM
“And I wonder how many of you actually park in the car park rather than over the road?
And for peoples info, its not the Quays idea to charge.... moan at the council... it was their idea!
I think someone is a little confused about the outlet. It is a discount designer outlet... upto 60% off designer lines..... just becasue there are end of line clothings doesnt make it not a designer outlet..... most of the clothes are last years stock anyway.
You lot moan about nothing being done to develop the city, but when something is done you still moan. Be grateful, without this centre where would we be.... the town would still be dead (and before anyone blames the Quays for the state if the city, who are you trying to kid...... it was dying many a year before the centre was opened?!) over 1000 people wouldnt have a job,a nd coach trips from Wales and Scotland wouldnt be coming here to plough money into our economy.”
by Stuart Lathey, Longlevens
Friday, May 21 2010, 9:53PM
“Linsey Ashworth says, "We have stores like Gap, Next, M&S and others which are very important to us and pull people in but we are looking at more high end for the future." Ahh yes, what a great PR man he is, inferring that the shops already there aren't 'high end market'. I think we have just discovered the Gerald Ratner of Gloucester. What a muppet”
by Liz, Quedgeley
Friday, May 21 2010, 8:48PM
“The park and ride stops right outside, and it's £2 per adult and kids are free...and thats return!!”
by Bored, Glos
Friday, May 21 2010, 4:59PM
“I haven't been to that many of these outlets but the ones I have been to are out of town. If the Quays started offering free parking then everyone would be parking there. Esspecially as Gloucesters parking is so rubbish. I don't think this is the Quays fault or problem its up to the council to provide better parking.
Although I do also think people are far to reliant on cars and being as lazy as possible ;)”
by geraint, gloucester
Friday, May 21 2010, 4:42PM
“Bored Glos,
Whether people are moaning or looking for excuses is surely not the issue. The point is that other major trading outlets DO provide ample free parking so if the Quays development is to become the sustained success we all want it to be then it has to follow suit. As things stand I suspect customers will start voting with their feet - or rather with their cars!”
by Bored, Glos
Friday, May 21 2010, 3:53PM
“Don't bring the whole family then!? I'm sure kids would rather go to the park than shopping. Just come on your own.
Looks like people are just looking for excuses instead of using the perfectly good systems put in place.
Harold don't just read between the lines.
Chubby exactly! ;)”
by Caz, Gloucester
Friday, May 21 2010, 2:44PM
“Park and Ride for a family of 5- hardly cheap option!!!!”
by Bob, Churchdown
Friday, May 21 2010, 1:54PM
“I've been to the Quays a few times. Judging from the end-of-line clothes on sale in some of the shops, I'd call it a "discount outlet" rather than a "designer outlet". No wonder Lindsay Jones said it's no threat to Regent Arcade....”
by Chubby, Gloucester
Friday, May 21 2010, 1:14PM
“Harold, don't be a dunce. The suggestion is rather than park at the Quays, you would drive to a Park and Ride and then take the bus from there. At £1.50 you would save on your parking if you drove straight there.
If you need help with other difficult tasks like blinking, I'll be glad to offer more advice.
Anyway, Dave from Cheltenham reckons he can do the Quays in an hour - so why can't you?”