Topshop on the move in Cheltenham town centre

HIGH street firm Topshop is looking to expand in Cheltenham town centre.

And town centre bosses have admitted the empty Disney Store would be a prime location for the new shop.

It comes as the shop's parent company, The Arcadia Group, was given planning permission to sell clothing at its BHS store in Gallagher Retail Park.

But it has promised to remain committed to its town centre stores – and hopes to introduce a Topman brand to its Cheltenham Topshop.

Business Cards From Only £10.95 Delivered www.myprint-247.co.uk

myprint-247

View details

Print voucher

Our heavyweight cards have FREE UV silk coating, FREE next day delivery & VAT included. Choose from 1000's of pre-designed templates or upload your own artwork. Orders dispatched within 24hrs.

Terms: Visit our site for more products: Business Cards, Compliment Slips, Letterheads, Leaflets, Postcards, Posters & much more. All items are free next day delivery. www.myprint-247.co.uk

Contact: 01858 468192

Valid until: Friday, May 31 2013

Arcadia has said it remains committed to town centres and has recently invested £2 million to modernise its BHS store.

And its property experts admitted they had looked at the Beechwood Arcade as a possible location.

The vacant Disney store is one empty unit that could provide both the added floor space and a prime location.

But Owen Acland, manager of Beechwood Shopping Centre, remained tightlipped over who would be taking on the premises.

"Nothing has changed, but we are continuing to talk to a few interested parties in taking it on," he said.

"We are not able to discuss the details of any interest until they are fairly close to being done.

"Sometimes these deals can fall apart at the 11th hour, so it would not be right to talk publicly about any interest."

Interest is also gathering pace in the adjacent HMV store after administrators were called in.

Alongside BHS and Topshop, The Arcadia Group also owns the Evans, Dorothy Perkins, Miss Selfridge and Wallis brands, which are already in the town centre.

Town centre manager Martin Quantock said the Disney Store would be a good fit for Topshop and larger retailers are keen to move in to other available High Street units.

"It is vital we have a strong Top Shop presence in the town centre," he said. "This should be a priority because of the footfall it helps generate.

"We have many big retailers queuing up to move into Cheltenham, but there just isn't enough big units to accommodate them all.

"I can imagine there has been plenty of interest in the Disney Store and it needs to be filled.

"The unit would certainly fill the requirements of a good- sized Topshop."