centre:mk attracts best-in-class F&B brands with quartet of signings

centre:mk, one of the top 10 retail and leisure destinations in the UK, has signed a quartet of leading national and multinational F&B brands. Bill’s and Chaiiwala have signed for city debuts, Cornish Bakery has signed for its regional debut, whilst Starbucks is recommitting to the destination with a significant relocation and upsize. The signings reiterate centre:mk’s commitment to providing visitors with a dynamic F&B line-up of authentic, high-quality, and affordable operators.

• All-day restaurant group, Bill’s, has selected a prominent 3,500 sq ft unit on the corner of centre:mk’s Queens Court and Silbury Arcade. The signing follows a successful 2023 for the Richard Caring-owned chain, with the centre:mk site set to be the first of multiple locations across the UK to launch. Due to open in November, Bill’s menu will showcase the brand’s extensive selection of day-to-night dishes, highlight dishes including the renowned pancake and burger selection, plus a wide variety of vegan and gluten-free options.
• Independent bakery concept, Cornish Bakery, has selected centre:mk’s Deer Walk to launch the brand for the first time in the region. The 2,650 sq ft location will offer Cornish Bakery’s extensive menu of artisan-quality food including its signature authentic, handmade Cornish pasties, ethically sourced coffee via B-Corp company Union Coffee, and creative pastries.
• Long-standing centre:mk tenant, Starbucks, has recommitted and further invested in the destination, relocating to a new, larger 2,800 sq ft space. The site, located opposite the soon-to-launch Bill’s restaurant on Queens Court, will open in the next couple of months and provide a greater selection of the brand’s range of ethically sourced quality coffees, pastries, and sandwiches, as well as its seasonal menu items.
• Chaiiwala, the international Indian street food café brand, is set to take over the former 1,748 sq ft Starbucks site on Silbury Arcade, bringing a unique blend of traditional and contemporary chai culture and deli fusion food to the city for the first time. Promising a ‘sip of the east’, Chaiiwala centre:mk will serve hot and cold drinks, all-day breakfast, wraps, “street eats”, Bombay bowls, roti, and desserts.

Kevin Duffy, centre:mk’s Centre Director, commented: “This quartet of F&B brands to invest in centre:mk will provide visitors with an even greater choice, joining our dynamic hospitality offering throughout destination. centre:mk’s authentic and varied F&B line-up serves as a convenience hub for local workers, a place to stop and enjoy an evening meal, and complements the overall experience at one of the UK’s top 10 retail destinations.”

Tom James, Bill’s Managing Director, added: “After an incredible amount of hard work from the team, we are now seeing a continued trend of positive results and feel the time is right to grow, starting with Milton Keynes and its dominant scheme, centre:mk. Our relentless focus on the guest experience has driven the charge forwards with our ethos of ‘Everyone leaves happy’, and we are collectively very excited about the future of the business and this latest strategic opening.”

FMX and Time Retail Partners acted for centre:mk. Teague and Capital represented Bill’s.