We've taken a unique approach to reinvigorating space at Midsummer Place, our destination shopping centre in Milton Keynes. Using the light filled area within the centre, we installed eight food and beverage pods offering a range of world cuisines for shoppers and visitors to enjoy. This open air feel with wooden picnic benches gives the impression of being outside and has been a real success in adding back a vibrancy to the shopping centre, not only encouraging dwell time but creating a real connection with local businesses and visitors alike. 'We wanted to create dwell time in the Boulevard, rather than it just being a space shoppers passed through' says Tom Ellams, Senior Asset Manager, talking to Retail Destination on the challenges and vision for Midsummer Place.

Frasers Group's Sports Direct and Lane7 will be the latest new additions to the line at Midsummer Place in Milton Keynes, set to open in 2024 / early 2025. Sports Direc t is a leading retailer of sports and fitness with stores across the UK and internationally. This 50,000 sq ft store will offer the world’s biggest sports and lifestyle brands across footwear, clothing, and equipment, and the store will also feature more brands from Frasers Group’s ecosystem including USC, Evans Cycles, and GAME. Lane7 Ltd will occupy circa 40,000 sq ft which will see the company’s 18th opening in the UK. Both brands will be in the former Next Beauty & Home unit across three floors and join other well-loved brands and retailers that have historically made Midsummer Place the ‘fashionable quarter’ and a first choice for customers looking for the latest trends and aspirational shopping. Lane7 will occupy the basement floor. Simon Anderson, Asset Management Director at Ellandi, said, “Securing both Frasers Group’s Sports Direct, and Lane 7 for Midsummer Place demonstrates both confidence in the market as well as highlighting the opportunity at Midsummer Place. These brands will complement the recent re-development of The Boulevard F&B quarter. We are transforming the centre, and in addition to the physical changes we are curating a very attractive tenant mix. This brings us one step closer to realising our vision to create a high-end, quality destination.” The strategic collaboration marks a significant milestone for Midsummer Place, reinforcing its commitment to creating a destination that is innovative with a diverse offer in the heart of Milton Keynes city centre. These major signings follow the recently completed development of the popular Boulevard which has seen eight independent luxury cabins open to create a food court that provides cuisines from around the world coupled with recognised F&B occupiers Leon, Starbucks, and Pret A Manger. A Frasers Group spokesperson commented: “We are pleased to be opening a new, elevated retail destination in Milton Keynes’ Midsummer Place. The Sports Direct store will give customers access to the world’s best sports and lifestyle brands, as well as bring other brands from the Group’s ecosystem, including USC, Evans Cycles, and GAME, to the location.” Gavin Hughes, Managing Director at Lane7 added, “This will be our biggest Lane7 to date and we can’t wait to come to Midsummer Place, bringing our unique brand of entertainment and hospitality to Milton Keynes.” Midsummer Place opened in 2000 and currently includes retailers, BOSS, Zara, Michael Kors, Tommy Hilfiger, Victoria’s Secret, Hollister, Superdry, New Look, Tesla, LEGO®, and Apple, among others. Further information, including timings, are expected to be announced in the coming months.

Backlot Imax Cinema will be opening at Houndshill Shopping Centre next month. Located in the brand-new extension of the Centre, the cinema, will open on 22 nd March, and features one of the largest IMAX screens in the North West, measuring a massive 10.85m high and 19.87m wide. Complementing the big screen, cinema goers will be able to enjoy The Backlot’s 100-seater diner serving fresh burgers, hotdogs and wings, along with a delicious range of desserts, including American style pancakes, indulgent sundaes and thick milkshakes. The Backlot has been designed to create an innovative arts and entertainment hub for both the local community and Blackpool visitors. It will be the new place in town to host events, from corporate conferences and birthday parties to comedy nights, live gaming tournaments and local community meet ups. Building on Blackpool’s long history of picture houses, and reigniting the early evening economy, this new extension of the shopping centre will increase footfall and have a major impact on surrounding businesses. Tim Cornford, Head of Asset Management at Ellandi says, “This new opening of IMAX cinema is part of the exciting regeneration plans for Blackpool. The regeneration of Blackpool town centre is a great example of public/private partnership working at its best. Our vision is to transform Blackpool’s shopping and town centre into a sustainable and thriving destination to reflect the needs and wants of residents, shoppers and visitors. The completion of phase 2 has created over 100 new jobs within the local area and it’s anticipated to contribute to an additional 1.2 million shoppers and visitors to Houndshill Shopping Centre.” Councillor Mark Smith, Blackpool Council’s Cabinet Member for Levelling Up – Place, adds: “We’re delighted to see this ambitious project come to life. Welcoming IMAX and The Backlot Cinema and Diner to Blackpool will be a major draw for residents and visitors to the town centre, with the new multi-media cinema complex providing a brand new state-of-the-art cinematic experience for all ages. For the town centre to prosper we must continue to provide new reasons to attract residents and visitors, whilst extending visit time into the evening - creating entertainment and leisure choices the whole family can enjoy. A destination for premium entertainment and events is a key part of a much wider plan to regenerate Blackpool town centre, with aims to boost the economy, create more local jobs and provide more things to see and do for locals and visitors alike.” At The Backlot, visitors will be able to experience the latest Hollywood releases, arthouse titles, event cinema and past big screen favourites. The Easter holidays will be a cinematic feast, featuring upcoming big screen hits such as Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, Kung Fu Panda 4 and special 60th anniversary screening of Mary Poppins. The cinema will be equipped with IMAX ’s most advanced theatrical experience, IMAX with Laser. Immersive by design, IMAX with Laser has been developed from the ground-up to deliver crystal clear, lifelike images and precision audio for a moviegoing experience unlike anything else. Tickets are now on sale to experience Denis Villeneuve’s much-anticipated sequel, Dune: Part Two.