The owner of Five Valleys Shopping Centre is celebrating a bumper Christmas with more than 200,000 customers flocking to the revamped venue.
Emerging from one of the most challenging times the UK High Street has ever encountered, the centre has reached major milestones in its regeneration plans providing the community with a state-of-the-art medical facility, supporting the openings of six independent start-up businesses and almost reaching full occupation with more announcements soon to come on the one remaining unit.
Businesses opened in 2022 included Vegicatessen, The Cotswold Grocer, Terra, The Sweet Peach, Choux Bun Appetite, Starbucks and The Noodle Bar.
Fat Tonis (restaurant), T&K Fried Chicken, The Tanning Room and Vape it Easy are also set to open this year.
For the past four years the centre has undergone a multi-million-pound makeover by South Yorkshire developers, Dransfield Properties, transforming a tired, run-down shopping centre to become an attractive hub for the town with a borough market style food hall, a number of independent eateries complimenting a range of essential stores and services.
The centre’s independent department store, Sandersons Boutique, celebrated a strong year introducing a number of new boutique designer ranges to its store including Grace & Mila, Pretty Lavish and FRNCH to their ladies’ wear which already includes Holland Cooper, Levi’s, Barbour, Barbour International, Whistles and Ugg.
The store also has an amazing menswear collection including Jacob Cohen, Derek Rose, Levi’s, Gran Sasso, Armani and now with RAINS and Superdry added.
Boasting the most exclusive range of luxury fragrances outside of London stocking Atkinsons, House of Oud, Chanel, Parfums de Marley, Initio, Montale, Robert Piguet and Marc-Antoine Barrois, the store also introduced Miller Harris last year as well as launching their own luxury fragrances, One and Two – an exciting addition to their extensive and unique range.
Managing Director of Dransfield Properties, Mark Dransfield DL, said: “Five Valleys is fast becoming a central meeting point within the town rather than a place to pass through. We have a thriving market here boasting a great selection of artisan traders and a strong eating out offer making it a popular choice for families, couples, friends and all other parts of the community to come together.
“Our need for products and services is everchanging but the drive to interact with people and experience social landscapes is consistent, if not more important to people than ever.”
Almost 300 people work at Five Valleys with a further 50 members of staff now based at the Medical Practice. This number is set to climb as more office units open up and the towns library relocates here in the spring.
The future certainly is bright for this part of Stroud and with a local community so keen to champion and support their local retail offer, the centre looks set to continue bucking national trends.
