07
November
2010
|
23:00
Europe/London

The Hub Arrives at the Arndale Shopping Centre

London, 8 November 2010 – New homeware retailer, The Hub, has taken a new 19, 020 sq ft store on a 10 year lease at Manchester's Arndale Centre, the UK's largest in-town shopping centre. The letting to The Hub reflects a remarkable year of occupational activity at the shopping centre owned by Prudential and Capital Shopping Centres, which has culminated in the centre being almost fully occupied.

The new Hub store is due to open around the 10th November will be situated in New Arkwright Way, next to the biggest TK Maxx store in the country. The new homeware retailer, owned by former Poundland Co-founder Dave Dodd, will sell affordable homeware and fashion accessories.

In addition to the Hub, young fashion brand, Luke 1977, has taken a new 1800 sq ft store, which will be their fourth standalone store in the UK.

The success of the Arndale Centre has been highlighted further by the introduction of a raft of high quality and established retailers such as Pandora, Guess, Bose, EAT (second store), Shout, Big Entertainment, Phones 4 U, Kitbag, and The Entertainer which have enhanced the retail offer and tenant mix. These new lettings have helped increase footfall figures with 2009’s total of 38 million visitors projected to be exceeded in 2010, making the Arndale centre the second most frequented shopping centre in the UK.

Tom Lester, Associate Director, shopping centre development and leasing team at CBRE, commented: "Despite the recent slowdown in the economy we are delighted that we have managed to secure a fantastic mix of retailers to the Arndale Centre and the Hub is a welcome addition. The centre is 99% let and we hope to continue to attract further quality retailers to strengthen and complete the retail offer."

Prudential and Capital Shopping Centres will continue to explore asset management opportunities to diversify and enhance to the tenant mix and quality of the centre.

CBRE, Lunson Mitchenall and Tushingham Moore are the letting agents on the scheme.