A RUSH by retailers, hoteliers and restaurateurs to be open in Liverpool One in time for Christmas begins tomorrow.
The next eight weeks will see 12 openings, starting with toy shop The Entertainer and restaurant Red Hot Buffet this week.
Health club The Gym opens next week, then November will see more than 400 hotel bedrooms added to the city’s portfolio. The 209-bedroom Novotel opens on Monday, Nov 2, followed by the 215-bedroom Hilton on Tuesday, Nov 17.
Hilton Liverpool general manager Marcus Magee said: “As the last of the major developments, I think the opening of the Hilton hotel marks the end of the beginning for Liverpool One. It’s had a fantastic first year and we are looking forward to being part of its ongoing success by using our international expertise to attract people from across the country and the world to Liverpool.”
Fashion stores Reiss, Whistles and Ollie & Nic also open next month, along with jewellers David Robinson.
The first week of December will see Hollister, Menkind and Habitat open their doors.
This rash of openings means that the shopping centre will be more than 98% full in those crucial weeks leading into Christmas.
Chris Bliss, Liverpool One estates director, is delighted with its performance in its first year, which has seen it attract more than 23m visitors despite the slowdown in consumer spending.
He is not concerned about the potential knock-on effects for Liverpool One of the struggling retail sector.
Insolvency practitioners Begbies Traynor this week warned there could be as many retail casualties this Christmas as last year, while BNP Paribas Real Estate are forecasting retail rents will continue to fall throughout 2010.
He said: “We will do what is necessary to ease the pain. We have lost two or three retailers – but it is only two or three. We generally don’t renegotiate rents, but we find other mechanisms, such as payment plans, or even look to relocate them. We have got a few retailers asking for more space, we will see some movement over the next year.”
Mr Bliss said shoppers will soon begin to see their next push, to enliven the area especially around Chavasse Park.
This will see a 55m big wheel in place in November, and the arrival of the Go Penguins ahead of an extensive programme for the spring.
