Bluewater tops UK shopping malls

The best shopping mall experience in the UK is Bluewater shopping centre in Kent, according to a new survey. Bluewater took the accolade in a recent survey of the UK's 500 leading shopping centres followed by MetroCentre in Gateshead and

Westfield London at number three.

'Going Shopping 2011 - The Definitive Guide to Shopping Centres’, published by Trevor Wood Associates every three years, uses footfall, size, number and type of shops and facilities available to rank the UK’s top 500 shopping centres. It also provides research on factory outlet centres, shopping parks, shopping & leisure centres, tenants, owners, letting agents and managers.

Trevor Wood, senior partner of Trevor Wood Associates, said: “It is encouraging that despite prevailing market conditions, most of the 500 leading schemes increased their scores, even if only marginally. This shows the understanding from landlords and tenants that long term success comes from sustained investment.”

The research found that budget brands have expanded since the last review, with the likes of Shoe Zone, Peacocks and Card Factory all moving up the occupancy table and Poundland undertaking the largest single occupier expansion. The mobile phone sector has undertaken the most expansion overall.

It also found that 95% of the 500 leading schemes now have stores trading every Sunday, up from 92% in the 2008 review.

The research also shows the emergence of a premier division of 27 leading shopping centres that includes newcomers St David's, Cardiff and Liverpool One.

Image: Bluewater