Newport’s Kingsway Centre signs up raft of new brands
The Kingsway Centre in Newport has made five new signings as it reports that footfall has increased by 15% since 2014.
The Queensberry Real Estate owned centre has announced that Bonmarché, Starbucks, Shoe Zone, Newport Barbers and Bodycare will join the line-up which includes PEP&CO, Sainsbury’s Local, Peacocks, Claire’s and a major Wilko store.
According to Queensberry Real Estate’s figures, footfall has increased by around 15% since it took ownership of The Kingsway Centre in 2014. The centre has also benefited from the launch of the adjacent Friars Walk regeneration scheme, which has been the catalyst for a significant sales uplift since the grand opening in November.
Ladies fashion brand Bonmarché has secured a 4,725 square foot store while Starbucks has signed to take 1,950 square feet of space. In addition, Shoe Zone and Newport Barbers have signed for 3,250 square foot and 250 square foot stores respectively while Bodycare has confirmed its commitment to the centre with a planned store refurbishment and the signing a new five year lease.
Daniel Mead, senior asset manager at Queensberry Real Estate, said: “We are experiencing a clear growth in Newport and the development of Friars Walk has been central to this. It is bucking the retail trend in this area of South Wales and has given a massive boost to the area, doubling the size of Newport’s catchment. This, coupled with the recent investments made to refurbish the centre and our attractive car park, has increased consumer interest which has helped secure a number of new brands to The Kingsway.”
In a further move, Queensberry Real Estate has worked in partnership with the teams at both The Kingsway and Friars Walk Centres to introduce a joint campaign called ‘Love Sundays’. The initiative aims to highlight the collective offer from across both centres, which includes 50 high street shops, 1,400 parking spaces, 12 family restaurants, an eight screen multiplex cinema, ten pin bowling, Soft Play and Laser Quest facilities.
The Kingsway Centre is fully integrated with Friars Walk and the wider retail offer in Newport City Centre. Queensberry Real Estate’s activities in Newport have been a focal point of a regeneration programme in the city, and has increased its retail spend potential by £120 million per annum.
