New signings at Centre:mk
The Centre:mk shopping destination in Milton Keynes has secured two new lettings.
Virgin Holidays will be opening a store in the centre’s Midsummer Arcade while lifestyle clothing brand Fat Face will be upsizing to a new space.
Both retailers will occupy the centre’s former River Island store following the latter’s upsize to a 20,000 square foot space at Centre:mk.
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Situated close to a new Primark store which is due to open in spring 2019, the Virgin Holidays shop will be the brand’s biggest to date with features such as a virtual reality roller coaster, a bar serving a range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, a children’s play area and a mock aircraft for customers to trial Upper Class and Premium seats. The 1,700 square foot space will open this winter and will employ eight full-time staff.
Dan Buckingham, head of retail for Virgin Holidays, said: “Despite news of the doom and gloom on British High Streets, Virgin Holidays is 100% committed to our traditional retail footprint and we couldn’t pick a better and more robust partner than Centre:mk. Our stores are designed to bring the holiday experience to life from the moment you book and we’re looking forward to bringing a taste of Barbados, Orlando and Dubai to Milton Keynes.”
Meanwhile, Fat Face will be situated next door in 2,927 square feet of ground floor and 1,700 square feet of first floor space. The new store will stock Fat Face’s full range of clothing.
Ed Sellick, speaking on behalf of Centre:mk joint owners, Hermes Investment Management and AustralianSuper, said: “We are very pleased that Virgin Holidays have chosen Centre:mk for their latest venture and that two of our biggest fashion brands have chosen to enlarge their stores with us. The popularity of their stores is testament to the centre’s large footfall and the affluent and diverse catchment.”
AustralianSuper and Hermes Investment Management have invested £60 million in Centre:mk over the last two years. The news follows the arrival of an upsized Patisserie Valerie and the signing of Yankee Candle at Centre:mk.
