Hammerson completes first phase of repositioning works at The Oracle with Zara upsize

Hammerson has completed the first phase of repositioning works at The Oracle in Reading after agreeing a deal with Zara to upsize its store.

The Inditex-owned fashion retailer will occupy 40,000 sq ft of the former House of Fraser department store, with the brand’s new space offering womenswear, menswear, and childrenswear, along with the latest store concept and digital features.

This completes the repositioning of the former department store, which welcomed Tk Maxx in May and will be home to leisure operator Hollywood Bowl when it opens in July.

Elsewhere at the scheme, new lettings have recently been agreed with Jewells, ProCook, and Kiko as part of Hammerson’s efforts to renew the retail offer, whilst deals have been agreed with Shake Shack and Cosy Club, introducing new dining and social uses to The Oracle.

Harry Badham, chief development and asset repositioning officer at Hammerson, said: “Completing this first significant phase of repositioning at The Oracle with a regional best in class Zara builds upon the successful partnership we have developed with Inditex elsewhere across our portfolio. We are confident, based on our track record, that the completion of this phase will hugely benefit customers and underpin the future retail evolution of The Oracle, firmly establishing its place as a top UK retail destination with its catchment of 3 million people. We won’t stop here and are continuing to invest in the next phases of repositioning, putting The Oracle on the map for customers and brands.”