New leisure quarter at Merry Hill boosts footfall by 43%
The arrival of Hollywood Bowl to anchor a newly-created leisure quarter at Merry Hill in Dudley has seen an increase in footfall at the destination.
Since the bowling operator’s arrival one year ago, footfall within the leisure quarter area of Merry Hill has risen by 43%, with the entrances around the area now the busiest in the centre.
Featuring 24 bowling lanes and a number of amusements, the 36,000 sq ft Hollywood Bowl at Merry Hill sits alongside a variety of recently-added food and beverage establishments including Wagamama, ASK Italian, and Wingstop. All four additions were made as part of an initiative by the centre’s asset manager Sovereign Centros from CBRE to create a hub for family-friendly entertainment in the destination.
Since Hollywood Bowl’s arrival, overall footfall at Merry Hill has increased by 5.4%, whilst sales have risen by 4.8%, with over half of that increase directly attributable to the new leisure quarter tenants.
Alistair Winning, asset manager at Sovereign Centros from CBRE, said: “The past year has been transformative for Merry Hill, with Hollywood Bowl and the leisure quarter playing a crucial role in its success. The centre’s ability to attract leading operators across retail, dining, and leisure is a testament to its status as a top UK destination, and the successful rebalancing of its tenant mix to introduce a carefully considered level of F&B and entertainment that can support our best-in-class retail. We are proud to see this area flourish, as the centre and its community really starts to feel the benefit of investment in the leisure quarter.”
The news comes as Merry Hill prepares to welcome national debuts for Harvey Norman and XF Gym, with both operators providing new anchor functions for the scheme.