Belfast’s Victoria Square hits £2bn sales mark

By

Barbara Santamaria

Published
Mar 6, 2018

Victoria Square, the leading shopping destination in Belfast with a mix of premium and affordable brands, has achieved £2bn in sales since opening ten years ago.

The shopping centre is home to 60 brands, including Calvin Klein, Hobbs, AllSaints and Ted Baker, and has secured many regional debuts over the last 10 years, with Michael Kors, Karen Millen, Hugo Boss, and Pretty Green opening in Northern Ireland for the first time.

When it opened in March 2008, the 800,000 sq ft shopping centre expanded the retail space in the city centre by almost a third, and created thousands of new jobs. Owned by Commerz Real, the centre currently employs almost 2,500 staff, contributing around £7.5m in rates every year.

Anyi Hobson, senior asset manager at Commerz Real, commented: “The significant investment Commerz Real has put into the destination and a well-executed, long-term leasing strategy has made it the city’s dominant retail and leisure destination.  It is a standout site both locally and within our international portfolio of destinations.”

Criona Collins, Head of Retail Agency at Lambert Smith Hampton, Victoria Square’s asset manager, added: “ In the last 12 months, we have worked on some very exciting investments, including the £5m renovation by House of Fraser, which saw the entrance of new brands including Charlotte Tilbury, Nars and Frédéric Malle.  Our leasing strategy focuses on providing aspirational brands and adapting the line-up to fit shifting consumer trends.  This ensures a vibrant and exciting offer at Victoria Square and we are proud to have assisted in its success.”

Victoria Square marked its 10th anniversary on 6 March with a number of events, including a fashion show, beauty demonstrations, style workshops and several competitions.