Growing brands select Manchester Arndale as shopping centre reports strong 2024

Popular online brands, growing F&B operators, and established retail names are just some of the occupiers who have moved to Manchester Arndale over the past 12 months as the shopping centre strengthens its position as the North West’s premier retail destination.

During 2024, joint asset managers M&G Real Estate and Global Mutual alongside retained leasing agents Metis Real Estate and Time Retail Partners as well as retained lease advisory agents Green & Partners, secured 223,748 sq ft of leasing transactions which included 23 new tenants, 14 lease renewals, and 6 regears, as the centre moves even closer to full occupancy.

The 12 months has seen Manchester Arndale welcome a host of new stores, restaurants, and leisure operators to the city centre, ranging from established brands such as Go Outdoors, B&M, Space NK and Rituals, through to online favourites such as BPerfect, PureSeoul, Represent, and Trailberg, with the latter two selecting the centre as its first physical retail space.

Alongside the flood of new retail lettings, Manchester Arndale has continued to diversify its F&B offering welcoming a broad selection of new offerings to its visitors. Among the new arrivals growing brand HOP Vietnamese selected the centre for its second Manchester restaurant, whilst local favourite Michael’s Coffee House also arrived, with exciting leisure operator King Pins also opening at the start of the year.

Both Global Mutual and M&G are now working towards further enhancing Manchester Arndale’s offering and are in talks with several retailers looking to benefit from the centre’s prime location in the heart of Manchester city centre.

Scott Linard, Portfolio Director for M&G Real Estate, said: “2024 has been an action-packed year for Manchester Arndale where we have welcomed a host of exciting new brands with names. In particular we are starting to see more and more traditionally online retailers look for physical space across leading UK shopping centres. At Manchester Arndale we have recently welcomed online favourites such as Represent and Trailberg to their first UK stores, meanwhile brands such as BPerfect and PureSeoul have been expanding their bricks and mortar presence.  The ability for retail destinations to attract exciting brands with large online followings into physical spaces helps to bring in visitors from far and wide and we are excited that Manchester Arndale is at the forefront of this trend.”

Steve Gray, Head of European Retail Asset Management at Global Mutual, added: “Manchester Arndale’s continuously evolving tenant mix allows us to attract visitors from across the North West and beyond. It is testament to the centre’s appeal that many growing brands have selected Manchester Arndale as their first store or outlet in the city and highlights how the centre acts as an incubator for innovative brands to grow. As we move into 2025, we look forward to welcoming even more exciting new occupiers who are set to open new flagship spaces over the next few months.”

M&G Real Estate and Global Mutual act as joint asset managers of Manchester Arndale while Metis Real Estate and Time Retail Partners are the centre’s retained letting agents, with Green & Partners retained lease advisory agents.