Hamleys to open store at Intu Lakeside
World famous toy brand Hamleys is to open a new store at the Intu Lakeside shopping centre in Essex as part of its UK growth strategy.
The retailer has taken a 9,000 square foot shop which will open in spring 2015.
A spokesperson for Hamleys said: “Intu Lakeside with its strong family demographic is a great location for a new Hamleys store. Working closely with Intu we have created a store that complements our UK growth strategy, delivering our unique retail experience of fun, theatre and entertainment. The Intu Lakeside store will be in a great position and we are sure the impact of an impressive 51 metre frontage right at the gateway of the proposed leisure extension means our store will perform well.”
In addition to its flagship store in London’s Regent Street, Hamleys has shopping centre stores at Intu Trafford Centre, St David’s Cardiff and the St Enoch Centre in Glasgow. It also has airport stores at Heathrow and Stansted and a shop at London’s St Pancras rail station.
Julian Wilkinson, regional director of Intu, added: “Hamleys is a great addition to the premium tenant mix at Intu Lakeside and substantially improves the centre’s family offer. As an iconic British brand offering quality children’s toys and experiences, the new store will attract more people, from further, for longer and will drive our ambition to create a compelling destination for families who come from near and far.”
Intu Lakeside is set to extend its leisure offer after obtaining planning permission for a £100 million development. This will include new cafés, restaurants and family entertainment venues gathered around a new public square. In addition, outline planning consent has been obtained for a £180 million retail extension to the centre.
