Peel Retail & Leisure has achieved a record-breaking start to the year for Gloucester Quays, with rising H1 footfall, strong retail and leisure performance, and continued leasing momentum reinforcing its position as the South West’s leading crossover outlet.
Across the first half of the year, overall footfall increased by +10% year-on-year (YOY), reflecting the continued success of Gloucester Quays’ evolving tenant mix. F&B sales were particularly strong, rising by +11.9% YOY following a flurry of new arrivals, including Muse Brasserie, Banchina Italian, and the highly anticipated COSMO Group world buffet concept Umami.
Strengthening the destination’s appeal even further, Gloucester Quays also welcomed Clip ‘n Climb to its Upper Deck in the spring, providing visitors with another reason to extend their stay beyond shopping, and reinforcing the scheme’s commitment to delivering a full day-out experience for families.
Retail performance remained equally impressive, with Home & Gifts leading the growth, securing a 70% YOY sales increase in Q2. Menswear also celebrated a strong quarter, growing by 28% YOY, while sportswear continued to outperform. Puma also delivered growth of 34% across H1, with Berghaus matching performance uplift during the second quarter.
The results underline the strategy alignment of Gloucester Quays’ compelling tenant mix and its diverse catchment of locals, tourists, and the city’s significant student population, which has attracted more than 5 million visitors per year for the last 10 years. As a result, the destination continued to drive positive trading performance, strenghtnening its appeal for both existing and prospective brands. The Quays’ performance is also reflected in its office offer, which is now fully let across 39,282 sq ft, reinforcing its appeal as a thriving mixed-use destination.
Paul Carter, Asset Director at Peel Retail & Leisure, commented: “Our strategy has always been to create a destination that offers desirable outlet shopping with a great mix of other uses, and these results demonstrate that approach is continuing to resonate with visitors. The addition of operators such as Muse Brasserie, Umami, Banchina, and Clip ‘n Climb has had a notable positive impact on our all-day appeal, creating even more reasons for people to stay longer, and return more often. In conjunction with our trading performance, the quality of leasing activity reflects the confidence brands have in Gloucester Quays, as a destination that consistently delivers.”
This news follows the announcement of the arrival of Macron at Gloucester Quays ahead of the Summer of Sport activations. The premium Italian sportswear brand brings its partnership with Gloucester Rugby to the city’s leading destination, set to stock the official kits for both the men’s and women’s rugby teams. It joins a strong sports and activewear line-up at Gloucester Quays, including the likes Puma, Asics, and Adidas.