A POPULAR sportswear retailer is coming to Winchester.
The Brooks Shopping Centre has revealed that Sports Direct will be taking over the former New Look shop on the lower ground floor.
With no central sports shop in Winchester for some years, The Brooks team expects Sports Direct will be a very popular addition, particularly for athletes and sports fans in the city.
Yarrow Estates Ltd, a consortia of investors led by Winchester-based investors and developers Gentian, bought the shopping centre in January.
READ MORE: Brooks Shopping Centre Winchester sold to Gentian Developments
Simon Turpin, director and asset manager, has been working with the Brooks management team, its tenants and Winchester City Council, to improve the centre by securing new tenants, reducing energy wastage and improving visitor experience.
Alongside the Sports Direct deal, Yarrow Estates has concluded a number of other new lettings as well as extending existing leases. A new £100,000 high-definition CCTV system has also recently been installed.
Mr Turpin said: “We are very pleased to welcome Sports Direct back to Winchester. The Brooks is the perfect location in the city centre for them, where the large sized unit they wanted, can be provided alongside other great brands, and at a much lower per square foot rent and rates, than on the High Street. We expect to see a significant increase in footfall when they open, which will in turn benefit all our other tenants.
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“The Brooks will soon be announcing its festive plans, including the biggest indoor Christmas tree in Winchester, local choirs singing carols and late-night opening of the shops and car park.”
The sports retailer announced plans to focus on opening more larger stores, while closing smaller branches in March.
Sports Direct plans to open on the lower ground of The Brooks, in units 3-6, in December.
The business previously had a store in Winchester High Street which closed several years ago.
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