Merry Hill celebrates 12 months of growth with 65 new brands and 9% year on year rise in footfall

26 Jan 2024

Published in: Member News

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Merry Hill celebrates 12 months of growth with 65 new brands and 9% year on year rise in footfall

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Merry Hill, one of the UK’s top ten retail and leisure destinations, celebrated a landmark 12 months with exciting brands and year-round entertainment driving a 9.4% rise in footfall and 7% increase in sales in 2023 compared to 2022.

Of the 65 new brands that signed or reconfirmed their commitment at the centre, 30 opened new stores at Merry Hill in 2023, which represent more than 30% of the centre’s units. The likes of community focused concept store Nike Unite, alongside KENJI, and major fashion brands such as Vanilla, Suit Direct, schuh Kids are amongst these exciting openings. 2024 is already set to welcome XF Gym at Merry Hill, Harvey Norman, and Wingstop.

2023 saw the continued evolution and expansion of the leisure offering at the centre. Visitors have even more reasons to enjoy themselves when they visit with the opening of a new entertainment centre by Hollywood Bowl, and well-loved dining spots including family-favourite pan-Asian restaurant wagamama, ASK Italian, Starbucks, Big Smoke Burger, and the UK’s first Sides fried chicken restaurant outside of London.

The centre increased its commitment to entertaining visitors through the year with highlights including a retro world of gaming at ‘Arcade Alley’ in February, bringing the community together to play sport at ‘Play United’ in the summer, the second year of immersive Halloween pop-up experience ‘House on the Hill’ and a new Christmas event ‘The Marvellous Merry Maze’, in time for the festive season. The centre also launched its new fashion, beauty, and wellbeing focused event ‘The Edit’.

Following on from the host of big and well-known brands that have invested in the centre over the last year, more is still to come this new year. Experience, and community driven fitness operator, XF Gym Merry Hill will be making its UK debut this summer. XF, alongside lifestyle, technology and entertainment retailer, Harvey Norman, will fill a significant portion of the former Debenhams space. Award-winning, buffalo style chicken wing restaurant, Wingstop, will also join Merry Hill’s food and drink offering in the first half of this year.

Jonathan Poole, Centre Manager at Merry Hill, said: "The past 12 months have been hugely successful for Merry Hill as we continue to see brands invest and thrive at the centre. We’re taking the centre experience to the next level for our visitors by bringing them exciting new additions across fashion, food and drink, and leisure, while delivering hours and hours of entertainment – which have been a huge hit.

“The quality of the brands coming to Merry Hill has been made possible by the hard work of our teams and retailers. It’s been a pleasure to see how well received these new openings have been across the centre – leading to an increase in footfall and the continued success of our new and existing retailers, growing sales year-on-year.

“We are constantly striving to enhance every aspect of the centre for customers of all ages and interests, with more exciting additions and announcements coming throughout 2024.”