The ‘tragic’ shopping centre that clawed its way back to life

Just a few years ago McArthurGlen, one of Wales’ most prominent out-of-town retail centres, was described as “tragic”, suffering from the aftershock of the pandemic with a number of vacant units. The centre, a familiar sight to anyone travelling on the M4, had seen notable retailers such as Gap, FatFace and Build A Bear leave their premises when we visited in May, 2022.

Shoppers expressed their dismay to WalesOnline at the desolate spaces, steep prices and muted atmosphere. One shopper remarked: “I went this week to pick up some bits and pieces for a trip we are going on. I was shocked by the number of empty units and a lot of the shops I went for had gone.” From superstar gigs to cosy pubs, find out What’s On in Wales by signing up to our newsletter here

They continued with a sense of disappointment: “The ones that were there didn’t really have a great range either so we left feeling disappointed. All the empty units did look tragic.” Back then, UK footfall data from Springboard indicated an ongoing struggle for out-of-town retail parks, recording a dip of 10% below pre-pandemic levels.

But now, things seem to be on the up for shopping centres across the UK, as 57% of people visit a shopping centre at least once a month according to ClearChannel, which notes: “Online shopping might have changed the overall retail landscape, but that doesn’t mean traditional physical retail is history. In fact, research shows that 57% of people visit a shopping centre at least once a month, and 47% visit at least once a week.

“And it’s not just older shoppers who are still interested in going out to shop – 95% of Gen Z consumers have visited a shopping mall in the last three months. In other words, shopping centres are still an integral part of the overall retail experience, and therefore well worth considering as advertising opportunities.”

Since 2022 McArthur Glen in Bridgend has also been bustling with changes, featuring new retail additions – the site now boasts over 90 stores and a “deluxe” cinema, upgrading from the former standard Odeon setup.

The town’s McArthur Glen Designer Outlet also recently hit its 26-year anniversary, and there have been lots of new additions thrown into the mix including Slim Chickens, Rituals, Under Armour and Ravensburger. Before this, Puma as well as children’s clothing retailer Character.com joined the mix, as well as footwear label Carvela, heritage brand Barbour, sportswear giant Adidas, and lifestyle brand Raging Bull.

During our last visit, not one empty retail space could be spotted. The food court was once again alive with activity, as Zizzi has opened alongside Wagamama, Five Guys, and Nando’s.

We sent reporter Bethany Gavaghan to review the designer outlet for herself in 2024. This is what she said:

It’s safe to say Bridgend’s McArthur Glen Designer Outlet has faced its fair share of criticism over the years. People have blamed it for Bridgend town’s ‘decline’, (although I always think it still has character like no other, and the foodie scene is booming), said its designer shops are too pricey for lots of customers, and that the empty shops there were ‘tragic.’ It even faced backlash for its deluxe Odeon when people said it was too cold.

I went to the cinema last year and had a great time. I had no issues with the temperature and thought it was a great way of treating yourself if you fancy a more filmic cinema experience. And after hearing that the shopping centre had been called tragic not too long ago, it was time to find out what it was really like at the moment.

I visited last week and was genuinely impressed. The so-called ‘tragic’ shopping centre has well and truly been brought back to life, with its polished look that anyone can enjoy. The vibe at McArthur Glen is much nicer than St David’s shopping centre in Cardiff, which I regularly walk in and out of without buying anything when it feels too busy. McArthur Glen, on the other hand, in Bridgend was like an oasis of calm in comparison.

There was a huge range of shops, and the atmosphere was still buzzing without feeling like you were about to bump into someone at any given moment. And people were smiling actual smiles – a rare occurrence in the middle of any shopping outlet.

The best bit had to be the Cadbury’s shop, which is the only one of its kind in Wales- I had a look around and you can get all sorts of things in there, including a massive bag of ‘misshapes’ for £4. Walking around the centre itself, it was slick, modern and much trendier than I had expected.

The Zizzi’s also looked lovely, and I wasn’t the only one who thought so. While I was eyeing it up, several other shoppers also had a nosey through the windows, making “ooh, that looks new” noises while doing so. Overall, I was hugely surprised, and would definitely oppose the view that it looked in any way tragic.

Matthew Reed, retail parks and retail solutions head honcho, shared some upbeat news back then about consumer foot traffic trends: “Across the sector more broadly, retail parks are continuing to outperform, with retail park footfall up 2.2% year on year in September vs 1.4% year on year in high streets and 1.5% in shopping centres.”

A spokesman for McArthur Glen said in February, 2024,: “We have seen a notable increase in both footfall and sales towards the end of 2023 which exceeded our predictions proving that our customers still love the excitement of a bricks and mortar shopping experience. The cost-of-living crisis continues to add extra pressure to everyone’s budget, but we believe that our strong value proposition and the wide range of brands we provide are the reason that our customers continue to return and spend at our Centre.

“Even during January, a notoriously blue month, and the cost-of-living crisis, our key messaging of Joy resonates with our customers. There is frequently an excited buzz in the atmosphere in the centre, especially during busier periods and the weekends following Zizzi’s opening.

“We are a go-to location for finding the perfect gift as well, so we’re expecting this atmosphere to continue on the run up to Valentine’s Day as shoppers hunt for the perfect something to give their loved ones!” He added: “Continuing over the next quarter we expect the trends of value-led shopping with sustainable investment in key pieces from premium brands to continue.”

Just a few years ago McArthurGlen, one of Wales’ most prominent out-of-town retail centres, was described as “tragic”, suffering from the aftershock of the pandemic with a number of vacant units. The centre, a familiar sight to anyone travelling on the M4, had seen notable retailers such as Gap, FatFace and Build A Bear leave their premises when we visited in May, 2022.

Shoppers expressed their dismay to WalesOnline at the desolate spaces, steep prices and muted atmosphere. One shopper remarked: “I went this week to pick up some bits and pieces for a trip we are going on. I was shocked by the number of empty units and a lot of the shops I went for had gone.” From superstar gigs to cosy pubs, find out What’s On in Wales by signing up to our newsletter here

They continued with a sense of disappointment: “The ones that were there didn’t really have a great range either so we left feeling disappointed. All the empty units did look tragic.” Back then, UK footfall data from Springboard indicated an ongoing struggle for out-of-town retail parks, recording a dip of 10% below pre-pandemic levels.

But now, things seem to be on the up for shopping centres across the UK, as 57% of people visit a shopping centre at least once a month according to ClearChannel, which notes: “Online shopping might have changed the overall retail landscape, but that doesn’t mean traditional physical retail is history. In fact, research shows that 57% of people visit a shopping centre at least once a month, and 47% visit at least once a week.

“And it’s not just older shoppers who are still interested in going out to shop – 95% of Gen Z consumers have visited a shopping mall in the last three months. In other words, shopping centres are still an integral part of the overall retail experience, and therefore well worth considering as advertising opportunities.”

Since 2022 McArthur Glen in Bridgend has also been bustling with changes, featuring new retail additions – the site now boasts over 90 stores and a “deluxe” cinema, upgrading from the former standard Odeon setup.

The town’s McArthur Glen Designer Outlet also recently hit its 26-year anniversary, and there have been lots of new additions thrown into the mix including Slim Chickens, Rituals, Under Armour and Ravensburger. Before this, Puma as well as children’s clothing retailer Character.com joined the mix, as well as footwear label Carvela, heritage brand Barbour, sportswear giant Adidas, and lifestyle brand Raging Bull.

During our last visit, not one empty retail space could be spotted. The food court was once again alive with activity, as Zizzi has opened alongside Wagamama, Five Guys, and Nando’s.

We sent reporter Bethany Gavaghan to review the designer outlet for herself in 2024. This is what she said:

It’s safe to say Bridgend’s McArthur Glen Designer Outlet has faced its fair share of criticism over the years. People have blamed it for Bridgend town’s ‘decline’, (although I always think it still has character like no other, and the foodie scene is booming), said its designer shops are too pricey for lots of customers, and that the empty shops there were ‘tragic.’ It even faced backlash for its deluxe Odeon when people said it was too cold.

I went to the cinema last year and had a great time. I had no issues with the temperature and thought it was a great way of treating yourself if you fancy a more filmic cinema experience. And after hearing that the shopping centre had been called tragic not too long ago, it was time to find out what it was really like at the moment.

I visited last week and was genuinely impressed. The so-called ‘tragic’ shopping centre has well and truly been brought back to life, with its polished look that anyone can enjoy. The vibe at McArthur Glen is much nicer than St David’s shopping centre in Cardiff, which I regularly walk in and out of without buying anything when it feels too busy. McArthur Glen, on the other hand, in Bridgend was like an oasis of calm in comparison.

There was a huge range of shops, and the atmosphere was still buzzing without feeling like you were about to bump into someone at any given moment. And people were smiling actual smiles – a rare occurrence in the middle of any shopping outlet.

The best bit had to be the Cadbury’s shop, which is the only one of its kind in Wales- I had a look around and you can get all sorts of things in there, including a massive bag of ‘misshapes’ for £4. Walking around the centre itself, it was slick, modern and much trendier than I had expected.

The Zizzi’s also looked lovely, and I wasn’t the only one who thought so. While I was eyeing it up, several other shoppers also had a nosey through the windows, making “ooh, that looks new” noises while doing so. Overall, I was hugely surprised, and would definitely oppose the view that it looked in any way tragic.

Matthew Reed, retail parks and retail solutions head honcho, shared some upbeat news back then about consumer foot traffic trends: “Across the sector more broadly, retail parks are continuing to outperform, with retail park footfall up 2.2% year on year in September vs 1.4% year on year in high streets and 1.5% in shopping centres.”

A spokesman for McArthur Glen said in February, 2024,: “We have seen a notable increase in both footfall and sales towards the end of 2023 which exceeded our predictions proving that our customers still love the excitement of a bricks and mortar shopping experience. The cost-of-living crisis continues to add extra pressure to everyone’s budget, but we believe that our strong value proposition and the wide range of brands we provide are the reason that our customers continue to return and spend at our Centre.

“Even during January, a notoriously blue month, and the cost-of-living crisis, our key messaging of Joy resonates with our customers. There is frequently an excited buzz in the atmosphere in the centre, especially during busier periods and the weekends following Zizzi’s opening.

“We are a go-to location for finding the perfect gift as well, so we’re expecting this atmosphere to continue on the run up to Valentine’s Day as shoppers hunt for the perfect something to give their loved ones!” He added: “Continuing over the next quarter we expect the trends of value-led shopping with sustainable investment in key pieces from premium brands to continue.”

Just a few years ago McArthurGlen, one of Wales’ most prominent out-of-town retail centres, was described as “tragic”, suffering from the aftershock of the pandemic with a number of vacant units. The centre, a familiar sight to anyone travelling on the M4, had seen notable retailers such as Gap, FatFace and Build A Bear leave their premises when we visited in May, 2022.

Shoppers expressed their dismay to WalesOnline at the desolate spaces, steep prices and muted atmosphere. One shopper remarked: “I went this week to pick up some bits and pieces for a trip we are going on. I was shocked by the number of empty units and a lot of the shops I went for had gone.” From superstar gigs to cosy pubs, find out What’s On in Wales by signing up to our newsletter here

They continued with a sense of disappointment: “The ones that were there didn’t really have a great range either so we left feeling disappointed. All the empty units did look tragic.” Back then, UK footfall data from Springboard indicated an ongoing struggle for out-of-town retail parks, recording a dip of 10% below pre-pandemic levels.

But now, things seem to be on the up for shopping centres across the UK, as 57% of people visit a shopping centre at least once a month according to ClearChannel, which notes: “Online shopping might have changed the overall retail landscape, but that doesn’t mean traditional physical retail is history. In fact, research shows that 57% of people visit a shopping centre at least once a month, and 47% visit at least once a week.

“And it’s not just older shoppers who are still interested in going out to shop – 95% of Gen Z consumers have visited a shopping mall in the last three months. In other words, shopping centres are still an integral part of the overall retail experience, and therefore well worth considering as advertising opportunities.”

Since 2022 McArthur Glen in Bridgend has also been bustling with changes, featuring new retail additions – the site now boasts over 90 stores and a “deluxe” cinema, upgrading from the former standard Odeon setup.

The town’s McArthur Glen Designer Outlet also recently hit its 26-year anniversary, and there have been lots of new additions thrown into the mix including Slim Chickens, Rituals, Under Armour and Ravensburger. Before this, Puma as well as children’s clothing retailer Character.com joined the mix, as well as footwear label Carvela, heritage brand Barbour, sportswear giant Adidas, and lifestyle brand Raging Bull.

During our last visit, not one empty retail space could be spotted. The food court was once again alive with activity, as Zizzi has opened alongside Wagamama, Five Guys, and Nando’s.

We sent reporter Bethany Gavaghan to review the designer outlet for herself in 2024. This is what she said:

It’s safe to say Bridgend’s McArthur Glen Designer Outlet has faced its fair share of criticism over the years. People have blamed it for Bridgend town’s ‘decline’, (although I always think it still has character like no other, and the foodie scene is booming), said its designer shops are too pricey for lots of customers, and that the empty shops there were ‘tragic.’ It even faced backlash for its deluxe Odeon when people said it was too cold.

I went to the cinema last year and had a great time. I had no issues with the temperature and thought it was a great way of treating yourself if you fancy a more filmic cinema experience. And after hearing that the shopping centre had been called tragic not too long ago, it was time to find out what it was really like at the moment.

I visited last week and was genuinely impressed. The so-called ‘tragic’ shopping centre has well and truly been brought back to life, with its polished look that anyone can enjoy. The vibe at McArthur Glen is much nicer than St David’s shopping centre in Cardiff, which I regularly walk in and out of without buying anything when it feels too busy. McArthur Glen, on the other hand, in Bridgend was like an oasis of calm in comparison.

There was a huge range of shops, and the atmosphere was still buzzing without feeling like you were about to bump into someone at any given moment. And people were smiling actual smiles – a rare occurrence in the middle of any shopping outlet.

The best bit had to be the Cadbury’s shop, which is the only one of its kind in Wales- I had a look around and you can get all sorts of things in there, including a massive bag of ‘misshapes’ for £4. Walking around the centre itself, it was slick, modern and much trendier than I had expected.

The Zizzi’s also looked lovely, and I wasn’t the only one who thought so. While I was eyeing it up, several other shoppers also had a nosey through the windows, making “ooh, that looks new” noises while doing so. Overall, I was hugely surprised, and would definitely oppose the view that it looked in any way tragic.

Matthew Reed, retail parks and retail solutions head honcho, shared some upbeat news back then about consumer foot traffic trends: “Across the sector more broadly, retail parks are continuing to outperform, with retail park footfall up 2.2% year on year in September vs 1.4% year on year in high streets and 1.5% in shopping centres.”

A spokesman for McArthur Glen said in February, 2024,: “We have seen a notable increase in both footfall and sales towards the end of 2023 which exceeded our predictions proving that our customers still love the excitement of a bricks and mortar shopping experience. The cost-of-living crisis continues to add extra pressure to everyone’s budget, but we believe that our strong value proposition and the wide range of brands we provide are the reason that our customers continue to return and spend at our Centre.

“Even during January, a notoriously blue month, and the cost-of-living crisis, our key messaging of Joy resonates with our customers. There is frequently an excited buzz in the atmosphere in the centre, especially during busier periods and the weekends following Zizzi’s opening.

“We are a go-to location for finding the perfect gift as well, so we’re expecting this atmosphere to continue on the run up to Valentine’s Day as shoppers hunt for the perfect something to give their loved ones!” He added: “Continuing over the next quarter we expect the trends of value-led shopping with sustainable investment in key pieces from premium brands to continue.”

Just a few years ago McArthurGlen, one of Wales’ most prominent out-of-town retail centres, was described as “tragic”, suffering from the aftershock of the pandemic with a number of vacant units. The centre, a familiar sight to anyone travelling on the M4, had seen notable retailers such as Gap, FatFace and Build A Bear leave their premises when we visited in May, 2022.

Shoppers expressed their dismay to WalesOnline at the desolate spaces, steep prices and muted atmosphere. One shopper remarked: “I went this week to pick up some bits and pieces for a trip we are going on. I was shocked by the number of empty units and a lot of the shops I went for had gone.” From superstar gigs to cosy pubs, find out What’s On in Wales by signing up to our newsletter here

They continued with a sense of disappointment: “The ones that were there didn’t really have a great range either so we left feeling disappointed. All the empty units did look tragic.” Back then, UK footfall data from Springboard indicated an ongoing struggle for out-of-town retail parks, recording a dip of 10% below pre-pandemic levels.

But now, things seem to be on the up for shopping centres across the UK, as 57% of people visit a shopping centre at least once a month according to ClearChannel, which notes: “Online shopping might have changed the overall retail landscape, but that doesn’t mean traditional physical retail is history. In fact, research shows that 57% of people visit a shopping centre at least once a month, and 47% visit at least once a week.

“And it’s not just older shoppers who are still interested in going out to shop – 95% of Gen Z consumers have visited a shopping mall in the last three months. In other words, shopping centres are still an integral part of the overall retail experience, and therefore well worth considering as advertising opportunities.”

Since 2022 McArthur Glen in Bridgend has also been bustling with changes, featuring new retail additions – the site now boasts over 90 stores and a “deluxe” cinema, upgrading from the former standard Odeon setup.

The town’s McArthur Glen Designer Outlet also recently hit its 26-year anniversary, and there have been lots of new additions thrown into the mix including Slim Chickens, Rituals, Under Armour and Ravensburger. Before this, Puma as well as children’s clothing retailer Character.com joined the mix, as well as footwear label Carvela, heritage brand Barbour, sportswear giant Adidas, and lifestyle brand Raging Bull.

During our last visit, not one empty retail space could be spotted. The food court was once again alive with activity, as Zizzi has opened alongside Wagamama, Five Guys, and Nando’s.

We sent reporter Bethany Gavaghan to review the designer outlet for herself in 2024. This is what she said:

It’s safe to say Bridgend’s McArthur Glen Designer Outlet has faced its fair share of criticism over the years. People have blamed it for Bridgend town’s ‘decline’, (although I always think it still has character like no other, and the foodie scene is booming), said its designer shops are too pricey for lots of customers, and that the empty shops there were ‘tragic.’ It even faced backlash for its deluxe Odeon when people said it was too cold.

I went to the cinema last year and had a great time. I had no issues with the temperature and thought it was a great way of treating yourself if you fancy a more filmic cinema experience. And after hearing that the shopping centre had been called tragic not too long ago, it was time to find out what it was really like at the moment.

I visited last week and was genuinely impressed. The so-called ‘tragic’ shopping centre has well and truly been brought back to life, with its polished look that anyone can enjoy. The vibe at McArthur Glen is much nicer than St David’s shopping centre in Cardiff, which I regularly walk in and out of without buying anything when it feels too busy. McArthur Glen, on the other hand, in Bridgend was like an oasis of calm in comparison.

There was a huge range of shops, and the atmosphere was still buzzing without feeling like you were about to bump into someone at any given moment. And people were smiling actual smiles – a rare occurrence in the middle of any shopping outlet.

The best bit had to be the Cadbury’s shop, which is the only one of its kind in Wales- I had a look around and you can get all sorts of things in there, including a massive bag of ‘misshapes’ for £4. Walking around the centre itself, it was slick, modern and much trendier than I had expected.

The Zizzi’s also looked lovely, and I wasn’t the only one who thought so. While I was eyeing it up, several other shoppers also had a nosey through the windows, making “ooh, that looks new” noises while doing so. Overall, I was hugely surprised, and would definitely oppose the view that it looked in any way tragic.

Matthew Reed, retail parks and retail solutions head honcho, shared some upbeat news back then about consumer foot traffic trends: “Across the sector more broadly, retail parks are continuing to outperform, with retail park footfall up 2.2% year on year in September vs 1.4% year on year in high streets and 1.5% in shopping centres.”

A spokesman for McArthur Glen said in February, 2024,: “We have seen a notable increase in both footfall and sales towards the end of 2023 which exceeded our predictions proving that our customers still love the excitement of a bricks and mortar shopping experience. The cost-of-living crisis continues to add extra pressure to everyone’s budget, but we believe that our strong value proposition and the wide range of brands we provide are the reason that our customers continue to return and spend at our Centre.

“Even during January, a notoriously blue month, and the cost-of-living crisis, our key messaging of Joy resonates with our customers. There is frequently an excited buzz in the atmosphere in the centre, especially during busier periods and the weekends following Zizzi’s opening.

“We are a go-to location for finding the perfect gift as well, so we’re expecting this atmosphere to continue on the run up to Valentine’s Day as shoppers hunt for the perfect something to give their loved ones!” He added: “Continuing over the next quarter we expect the trends of value-led shopping with sustainable investment in key pieces from premium brands to continue.”