The Galleries shopping mall in central Bristol has officially opened its new food court, marking the mid-way point in a 10-stage, £3m upgrade programme.
The food court has been relocated from its former top-floor position to a more convenient space on the middle floor. Space has been doubled to 30,000 sq ft and the number of outlets increased to include Burger King, Fat Jackets, Subway, Butlers and Perfect Pizza.
The five-month project was completed ahead of schedule.
Work has now begun on the former food court area, which is being reconfigured to accommodate an additional anchor tenant, 99p Stores, scheduled to open in mid-November.
The food court relocation is the first major redevelopment at the 340,000 sq ft Galleries since it opened in 1991 and follows the recent restoration of original The Galleries name – changed back from the Mall – as well as new escalators, and more visible branding through new interior and exterior signage.
Representatives from the centre’s investment manager InfraRed Capital Partners, asset managers Hark Group and property agents Savills and GCW attended the food court opening.
Among other new facilities are a suite of state-of-the-art washrooms with disabled facilities and a baby changing area.
Hark Group partner David Henderson-Williams said: “We are extremely pleased to have reached a key point in this phased programme of investment which is revitalising the centre and enhancing the shopping experience for both customers and retailers.
“Since The Galleries first launched in 1991, the retail environment has changed considerably and we are confident the relocation of the food court coupled with other material improvements planned for 2013 will reinforce its role as the dominant mid-market shopping centre in Bristol.”
The Galleries centre manager Colin Lang added: “Bringing the food court in ahead of schedule is testament to the hard work of the team involved. We’re excited about the impact this new facility will have on the overall visitor and shopper experience which with increased dwell time is likely to improve footfall and retailer performance.”
The Galleries, which has 80 shops and food service units and a 1,000-space car park spaces, has attracted a number of new tenants recently including national outdoor clothing brand Trespass, which committed to a 10-year lease on 5,800 sq ft of space over three floors in July. Further lettings will be announced in the run-up to Christmas.
