Q&A: Brian McAreavey, Director at Clearhill
TRB recently sat down with Brian McAreavey, Director at leisure‑vending firm Clearhill, to discuss how experiential retail is helping shopping centres boost dwell time, attract families and reimagine retail destinations as community hubs.
Brian, what’s driving the shift now towards experience‑led retail in shopping centres?
Retail is evolving rapidly. Today’s consumers look for connection, entertainment and shared moments – not just transactions. Even though UK shopping centre footfall fell by 2.2% in 2024, dwell time is up, with average visits now around 118 minutes. That tells you people still visit retail destinations – they just expect more from the experience.
How does Clearhill respond to this change?
We support over 400 shopping destinations across the UK and Ireland with family‑focused micro‑experiences – rides, massage chairs, rewards apps. These small interactive moments create joy and engagement. As one operator recently observed, a 3% footfall uptick delivered a 5% increase in dwell time at Hammerson centres.
And then came FunHub. Tell us about that rollout.
This summer, we opened our first full‑scale FunHub retail outlet at Kingfisher Shopping Centre in Redditch. It’s not just a collection of machines – it’s a curated, interactive play‑retail experience designed for families. Whether for a quick stop or a longer visit, FunHub encourages visitors to stay, explore and return.
What kinds of design or operational enhancements work best in drawing families and increasing engagement?
It’s about thoughtful design; family zones, flexible seating, sensory‑friendly spaces, interactive installations. These enhancements support longer visits and repeat footfall. And with 57% of UK consumers – especially those aged 18‑34 – now preferring experiences over products, the case for this strategy has never been stronger.
How is Clearhill building for future growth beyond just FunHub outlets?
Behind the scenes, we invested £850,000 refurbishing our Banbridge HQ – upgrading workshops, offices, innovation and staff development zones. It reflects our ambition to lead creatively in experiential retail and support operators with meaningful, scalable concepts.
What’s your view on the role of experience in modern retail real estate?
Experience is now the anchor. It doesn’t replace retail – it enhances it. Places like Canary Wharf saw record footfall (70 million visitors in 2024, up 7.5%) driven by curated experiences, leisure activations and strong community programming. That shows what’s possible when retail and leisure co‑exist intentionally.
Finally, what should centre operators keep in mind for the future?
Be agile and people‑focused. Curate tenant mixes dynamically, integrate interactive programming, use digital tools for engagement, and always ask: what will make visitors want to come back? Retail spaces that design for joy will naturally drive dwell time – and in turn, deliver sustainable growth.
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About Clearhill
Clearhill delivers experiential retail solutions across the UK and Ireland, specialising in family‑focused micro‑experiences and the FunHub concept. They partner with over 400 destinations to bring retail and leisure together in innovative, community‑centred environments. For more information, visit www.clearhill.com.
