Cotswold Outdoor signs for 8,000 sq ft store at Merry Hill

Outdoor recreation retailer Costwold Outdoor has signed for an 8,000 sq ft, triple fascia store at Merry Hill, along with its sister brands Runners Need and Snow + Rock.

The brand will open on the Dudley scheme’s upper level later this month, adjacent to Virgin Holiday’s recently-relocated store.

Combining Cotswold Outdoor, Runners Need, and Snow + Rock, the space will offer clothing, footwear, and accessories for activities such as walking, running, and winter sports.

The store will be located close to Merry Hill’s leisure quarter, and will look to benefit from its increased footfall and change in atmosphere following a £12m investment and the arrival of new operators.

The commitment of Cotswold Outdoor to Merry Hill follows the opening of other multi-fascia units at the scheme. This includes luxury jeweller, Beaverbrooks, which is home to a number of shop-in-shops including TAG Heuer, OMEGA, Breitling, TUDOR and Gucci, whilst womenswear brands Phase Eight and Hobbs were brought together into the same space from separate units in the centre.

Nick Round, senior asset manager at Sovereign Centros from CBRE, said: “Merry Hill’s transformation is set to continue with the addition of Cotswold Outdoor, enlivening the upper mall even further and benefitting from the newly transformed leisure quarter. As a super regional centre and flagship for the entire region, securing operators that offer something different is paramount, and with its triple-brand offer, Cotswold Outdoor will more than deliver.”

The signing follows the recent news that Merry Hill is to welcome Southern-inspired chicken brand, Slim Chickens this May. The operator has taken a prominent location at one of the food court entrances to the centre.

JLL, Time Retail Partners, and Font Real Estate represent Merry Hill.