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TAG Heuer selects Hammerson’s Bullring for its debut standalone boutique in Birmingham
Hammerson has signed leading luxury watch retailer, TAG Heuer, at Bullring & Grand Central, for the brand’s first dedicated boutique in Birmingham and first store to feature a new design concept.
Located on the Bullring’s upper level opposite Sky and Breitling, the 1,400 sq ft standalone boutique will further elevate TAG Heuer’s presence within the destination, offering its customers a fully immersive TAG Heuer experience. The new Bullring boutique will be the brand’s first location to feature its brand-new creative design concept.
“TAG Heuer’s new Birmingham boutique will further enhance Bullring’s line-up of luxury watch and jewellery retailers, a category which continues to perform well. This is just the type of international brand our customers have now come to expect as we continue to curate a real mix of high end, experience-led and innovative brands and concepts. We’re looking forward to the brand’s grand opening.”
Toby Tait, Director Asset Management at Hammerson
Sandbox VR selects Grand Central for largest site
Hammerson has signed the world’s most advanced virtual reality experience, Sandbox VR, as part of its vision to diversify the use of Grand Central in the heart of Birmingham and an ambitious strategy to reinvigorate its assets through new brands, entertainment, and experiential concepts.
The 13,000 sq ft unit - set to open this summer - is the brand’s third in Europe and largest to date. This signing supports Sandbox VR’s plans to expand across the UK and Ireland, while elevating the experiential offer at Hammerson’s Bullring & Grand Central, in-line with the wider evolution of the destination.
“The signing of Sandbox VR is another big leap forward in the diversification and repositioning of our Birmingham estate. This is going to be a transformative year for Bullring & Grand Central with experiential brands and innovative concepts that engage and excite our customers. We are being bolder and more ambitious in our approach as we work to create a truly multi-use destination that we and the city can be proud of.”
Toby Tait, Director Asset Management at Hammerson
Hammerson submits plans to transform Grand Central into future-focused workplace and amenity quarter
Hammerson has submitted plans to transform the former department store at Grand Central, part of its Birmingham estate, into 200,000 sq ft of modern wellbeing-designed offices called ‘Drum’.
Designed by Ken Shuttleworth’s Make Architects, the proposals reflect Hammerson’s strategy to reinvigorate its prime urban estates through diversifying uses whilst maximising the re-use of embodied carbon in existing buildings.
“This project is the next step in Hammerson’s vision to transform our Birmingham estate, creating a truly multi-use asset that thrives due to its relevance and diversity. Inspired by the 15-minute city concept Drum is also an original and highly important evolution of workplaces, built on the principles of connectivity, amenities, and sustainability. It will bring to Birmingham a new type of workspace that meets the requirements post-pandemic of established and start-up businesses, creating a new world-class environment at this key national interchange and gateway to the UK’s fastest growing city.”
Harry Badham, Chief Development and Asset Repositioning Officer at Hammerson
Hammerson scores a strike at the Bullring Estate as Lane7 signs for its biggest investment
Hammerson has signed Lane7, the boutique bowling concept, at the Bullring Estate, as it continues to deliver its strategy to reinvigorate its assets through new brands, entertainment and experiential concepts.
The 28,000 sq ft space on Link Street, which connects Bullring and Grand Central, will be Lane7 Group’s biggest investment to date and serve as its flagship.
Lane7 will use the size of the Bullring Estate location to introduce its widest range of games yet, and, in a first for the brand, a rooftop terrace bar with views across Birmingham city centre. Lane7 is set to open in summer 2023.
“The Bullring Estate plays host to the very best retail brands, but we need to go further to provide consumers with an even greater range of reasons to visit. Lane7 is reflective of this approach and the brand has embraced our ethos to create a concept at the Bullring Estate that will define the future of its business. Along with our existing leisure experiences, the Bullring Estate is able to play an even bigger role in the lives of even more consumers, creating a resilient, relevant and successful destination that thrives through its diversity of offer.”
Toby Tait, Director Asset Management at Hammerson
KENJI launches West Midlands flagship at the Bullring
Hammerson has announced that KENJI, the East-Asian inspired homeware and stationery brand, has opened its debut location in the West Midlands at Bullring.
Located on Bullring’s middle level, the 3,250 sq ft West Midlands flagship showcases KENJI’s full range of eclectic homeware, collectable plushies and kawaii stationery ranges, alongside the brand’s extensive selection of East-Asian snacks and confectionary.
“The fact that KENJI has decided to open its West Midlands flagship at Bullring is testament to the strength and popularity of the destination, and the work we’ve done to make the Bullring Estate as attractive and engaging for consumers as possible. We are happy to see KENJI open ahead of the festive period and are sure the brand will trade exceptionally well during this time.”
Toby Tait, Director Asset Management at Hammerson
Bullring & Grand Central secures 27,500 sq ft JD Sports upsize for Summer 2023
Hammerson has announced that JD Sports will more than double its presence in Bullring & Grand Central, in a clear signal of the destination’s strength as well as a firm commitment to Birmingham as a thriving city.
JD Sports, which has been at Bullring since 2003, will open a new 27,500 sq ft store on the lower level. The new store will stock even more ranges from brands such as Nike, Adidas, Under Armour, and Converse, covering footwear, fashion, and accessories. It is set to open in Summer 2023, creating more than 40 new jobs at Bullring & Grand Central.
“JD Sports more than doubling the size of its store is a clear indication of the confidence brands have in Bullring as Birmingham’s premier retail and leisure destination. The work we do to drive customer engagement through events, pop-ups and collaborations gives brands confidence to continue to invest in this key national destination, maintaining and growing our relevance as customer habits change.”
Toby Tait, Director Asset Management at Hammerson
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