Well known and highly rated regional Italian restaurant operator, Bottelinos, has submitted a planning application to open a new outlet in Yate Shopping Centre’s North Parade.

The application seeks permission for a change of use of the four separate self-contained units which were previously occupied by Lloyds Bank, Hobbs House Bakery, D T B’s Stationers and St Peter’s Hospice into a single unit. The units have been vacant for some time. The application also seeks some exterior alterations to fit the new use.

The restaurant will have a gross internal floor area of approximately 470square metres and will cater for up to 160 covers with the bar area allowing approximately a further 100 customers.

Andrew Lowrey, Shopping Centre Manager, commenting on this latest new high profile tenant, said: “Bottelinos is a highly rated and well known local restaurant chain. Attracting them to Yate is a real coup and another important addition to our portfolio. At the recent public consultation for the cinema proposals, the public said they wanted to see a greater variety of eateries, especially an Italian restaurant with a family bias.

“We investigated all the options for future use of the units but there was no interest from any retail operators. Bottelinos will enhance North Parade and give the centre a vibrant frontage that will contribute to its image from Station Road.”

There will be a mix of employment opportunities with up to 12 full time and 16 part time jobs being created when the restaurant opens in December this year.

The premises will be open to customers from 11.00am to 10.30pm, seven days a week, with staff on-site 30 minutes at the beginning and end of each day.

Bottelinos, a successful Italian chain of restaurants, was awarded the 2012 Independent Italian Restaurant Chain of the Year in the Pizza, Past and Italian Food Association Industry Awards. It has outlets in Bedminster, Emersons Green, Portishead, and Swindon.

Leading high-street fashion retailer Peacocks is returning to Yate!

Two years after closing its store in Yate Shopping Centre’s South Walk when the chain went into administration, the new owners have shown their confidence in the town by opting to re-open in the last of the new units in East Walk opposite Tesco.

Speaking for the Centre owners, Mark Hull, Group Property Controller said: “This is fantastic news and significantly improves the tenant mix. People have been telling us they want more variety including clothing shops and the new owners of Peacocks have made it clear that they see a big future for a store in Yate. Furthermore we have worked hard to win back Peacocks in spite of challenging times but clearly they believe in us and the changes we have put in place and have proposed for the Town going forward”.

Peacocks will be taking the last new unit in the East Walk development, a total of just over 7,800 square feet over two floors, on a 10 year lease. The store opening will create 25 jobs.

Andrew Lowrey, Shopping Centre Manager, said: “Peacocks could be starting the shop fit-out by the end of July and are very keen to open as quickly as possible. It’s obviously a major commitment for the new owners of Peacocks and one which will be a tremendous draw in the Shopping Centre.  It has also been one of the worst kept secrets that Peacocks were looking to come back into the town but until it’s all signed we obviously could not comment to avoid disappointment.

“Fashion is the most common demand when people talk about new stores in the Centre. With the economy generally starting to improve, we’ve found that many of the retailers targeted over the last couple of years are now actively seeking requirements in the town. The Centre’s owners deserve credit for their continued commitment and support. Their investment is now seeing the centre going from strength to strength and shortly we’ll be shouting about more exciting news about new tenants coming to Yate in the very near future!”

Simon Anderson of Peacocks said “We’re pleased to be coming back into Yate, particularly into what is probably one of the best located units in the town centre now. The unit is well configured, the right size & will have a full Peacocks offer in it. All being well, we will be open week commencing 16th September.

Peacocks, who offer clothing for all the family including men, ladies and children, closed its South Walk store when its 230 stores nationwide entered administration.

Independent jeweller, Abrahams, is relocating to a prime position within Yate Shopping Centre on a new lease.

Having first opened in Yate in 1966, Abrahams is the longest serving independent retailer in the Shopping Centre and is now moving from North Walk to the former Evans unit at 7 East Walk in the heart of the Centre.

Shopping Centre Manager Andrew Lowrey: “It is great news that one of our longest-standing tenants has chosen to stay with us. Abrahams is one of the shops that makes Yate Shopping Centre so special – a combination of national high street chains with a good mix of independent retailers. Moving to the new unit in East Walk will ensure they are right at the heart of things!”

Abraham’s manager Richard Abraham: “With all the major investment happening in Yate we are so excited to announce that Abraham’s Jewellers are here to stay! Relocating to a more central position gives us a great opportunity to offer a new modern store with new and exciting brands PLUS a brand new state of the art repair department that will be all on one level, NO more stairs!

We will of course keep the same traditional values and excellent customer service that my grandfather established in 1945. So why not pop in and say hello, you never know you might find that perfect gift in our relocation sale currently on at 12 North Walk.

The business has signed a new 10-year lease on the larger 960 square feet premises meaning that all the key units in East Walk are now occupied or under offer.

Abrahams Jewellers is a long established family run business having been started by founder, James Henry Abraham in 1945 when it specialised in maintaining RAF servicemen’s watches and clocks.

Now, with over three generations spanning a period of nearly six decades, Abrahams Jewellers offers an extensive range of timeless and modern jewellery, classic and designer watches, on-site watch and jewellery repairs and bespoke commissions.

Yate Shopping Centre has seen a boost in visitor numbers following the recent opening of M&S Simply Food – and other retailers in the centre are reaping the benefits.

During the week that M&S Simply Food opened, Yate Shopping Centre saw footfall increase across the centre by 13 per cent. The East Walk section where the M&S store is situated has seen daily footfall rise by 20 per cent, with nearby retailers also seeing a real boost in sales and visitor numbers.

Andrew Lowrey, Centre Manager for Yate Shopping Centre, commented: “The opening of M&S Simply Food has had a huge impact on the shopping centre as a whole, with footfall up by as much as 20 per cent, which is a fantastic result in the current climate. The opening of M&S is also attracting a new type of customer to Yate, and many of our other retailers are seeing a significant uplift in sales. This is great news for the centre and the area as a whole.”

M&S Simply Food Store Manager, Rob Mathias, added: “The response from local people has been fantastic. Customer feedback on the quality and range of products on offer has been very positive, and our sales figures reflect this.

“Our in-store café and bakery have proved extremely popular with shoppers, and we have experienced a strong demand for deli products, global meals and our ‘Dine In’ offers – reflecting the current trend towards quality dining at home.”

Building work starts shortly on major changes in Yate Shopping Centre to accommodate potential new tenants.

Starting in the last week of June, the four vacant units in North Parade will be converted to a single large unit which has attracted the attention of three potential operators. The adjoining corner unit is already taken by Hotcha Chinese restaurant

Work also starts in July on converting the former Spirals Nightclub in East Walk into a new 24 hour/7 day gym – Anytime Fitness – scheduled to open in the autumn. One feature of this conversion will be the windows in the first floor link over East Walk allowing users views down towards the new retail units. There will also be new centre and tenant signage.

Two new tenants have recently extended their leases among a flurry of activity in recent weeks. New Look has extended its lease on the premises in East Walk for a further 10 years and Millets has opted to extend its lease in the existing unit in West Walk.

Shopping Centre Manager, Andrew Lowrey, said: “It’s always good news when existing tenants decide to extend their leases but we are also looking at how we can maximise the use of currently vacant units to attract new tenants.

“We have a lot of interest from potential operators at the moment and are juggling things around to meet their needs. In North Parade, hoardings will be erected in the next couple of weeks so that we can knock the walls through to create a larger frontage which is the requirement of all three interested parties.

“These are exciting times and the Retailers Event last week demonstrated to us that we are on the right path. There was a lot of interest from our guests and we now have to look at how we can meet their requirements.

“We already have several of the current vacant units in the final stages of negotiation and I am confident that further new contracts will come as a result of our latest push”.

Yate Shopping Centre Marketing Manager, Tracy King, has been shortlisted for a top national industry award, the results of which will be announced at The Dorchester Hotel in London on Tuesday, 25^thJune.

Tracy is shortlisted in the Marketing Manager of the Year Award in the nationally recognised SCEPTRE Awards which recognise the best practice and best people in the shopping centre industry.

Shopping Centre Manager, Andrew Lowrey, said: “This is a tremendous achievement for Tracy who plays a vital role in the success of Yate Shopping Centre. Over the years, Tracy has developed our marketing campaigns to ensure they appeal to shoppers and their families. Events such as the Christmas lights switch-on and the Beach are now regular fixtures in the very busy annual schedule she has developed.

“It is a testament to her work and dedication that she has been nominated for this top award. During 2012 Tracy organised 32 events including character appearances, tea parties, craft days, Jubilee Celebrations, celebrity appearances, a visit from the coca cola lorry & FA Cup, the Beach which was a huge success with over 500 users per day, and two Christmas Launch events.

“We always receive excellent feedback from our retailers and customers and the Yate Shopping Centre management team will all be supporting Tracy on the 25^thJune.”

Tracy has been working for Yate Shopping Centre for 10 years and has progressed from Centre Administrator to Marketing Manager.

Yate will become the centre of attention for the nation’s retailers next Thursday, 13^th June as the Shopping Centre hosts a special event to show its wares.

Retailers and their agents have been invited to visit the centre to see the new East Walk development, including M&S Simply Food, Sports Direct and Costa Coffee, and to hear about the proposals for the Link Road overflow car park development.

Andrew Lowrey, Centre Manager: “There is no doubt that since we announced the proposals for a cinema, leisure and additional retail units, Yate has attracted a lot of industry attention. Now we are making the most of this by inviting the country’s leading companies to spend a morning with us looking at what Yate has to offer.

“M&S opened on Wednesday and there was a notable increase in footfall across the centre and a real buzz in East Walk. Earlier this week we showed one of the region’s leading restaurant operators around the centre. Within hours they contacted us to confirm that they want to be part of the action in Yate so we are now looking at how we can accommodate them.  This is not an isolated case but becoming a regular occurrence as we are now spending up to two days every week showing prospective tenants including local, regional & national operators what we have to offer.

“It was very noticeable at the recent cinema development public consultation that people want to hear what’s happening with the vacant units and want greater variety. We are working hard to fill them and to consider all sorts of options to ensure we can draw these new operators to the town. Next Thursday will be another showcase event for the town when we expect as many 50 retailers and their agents to take-up our offer”.

MORE than 200 people queued up to be the first customers at Yate’s new Marks and Spencer Simply Food store.

The highly-anticipated opening this morning was watched by bumper crowds of eager shoppers, who saw store manager Rob Mathias cut the ribbon to the brand new 9,000 square feet supermarket.

Most of the 80 staff employed at the new store were on hand to welcome customers, offer them complimentary drinks and tastings and give away prizes.

Mr Mathias told the Gazette: “A lot of our staff wanted to come and work today. There is definitely a very positive feeling among the staff.

“It has been a lot of hard work getting ready but we are really pleased to be bringing a Simply Food store to Yate.”

He added: “It’s great to finally welcome customers into the new store and show them what we have been working on for the past few months.

“The feedback we have received from customers has been fantastic, particularly commenting on the range of products available and the look and feel of the new store.

“We believe the new store brings the best in quality and fresh food to shoppers in Yate and we look forward to welcoming customers into the store over the weeks and months to come.”

The shop features an in-store bakery, 50-seater café and the popular M&S Shop Your Way service.

The unit is one of three others to open recently, including Sports Direct and Costa Coffee, and is part of an ongoing investment programme by Yate Shopping Centre.

The new store will open Monday to Saturday 8am to 8pm and Sunday 10.30am to 4pm.

Yate New Town was opened in September 1965 and will be celebrating its 50^thAnniversary in 2015. School children of Yate and district were invited to design tiles for a mural showing how they saw the Shopping Centre.

“This mural was a feature of the Shopping Centre for many years” said Andrew Lowrey Shopping Centre Manager, “and when we rebuilt Tesco we were able to relocate a copy of the original on the wall in East Walk”

Over the next year, Yate and Dodington in Bloom will be working with local school children to create a second mural to celebrate the 50 years since the Shopping Centre opened. Many changes have taken place over the years and we are hoping today’s children will have new and varied insights into the exciting developments taking place in the centre.

Andrew Lowrey said “It will be nice to have a second commemorative mural to mark our 50^thanniversary and look forward to being engaged in this project.”

It would be particularly appropriate if any of the children (now adults!) who helped to create the original mural, are still living in the area, as we would be pleased to talk with you about the ideas behind the mural.

Please contact us on yanddinbloom@gmail.com or speak to any committee member.

You can also see our pages on www.myyate.co.uk/yate/environment/yate_in_bloom

EXCITEMENT is growing ahead of the opening of a new Marks & Spencer Simply Food store in Yate next week.

The supermarket, in a brand new unit on East Walk, will be unveiled at 10am on Wednesday, June 5.

Customers will have the chance to win a share of £1,000 in M&S gift cards between 12noon and 2pm on launch day, to celebrate the opening.

Store Manager Rob Mathias said: “There are now just days remaining until we unveil our brand new Simply Food store in Yate, which will offer shoppers an extensive range of delicious M&S food and drink, a great shopping experience and a fantastic new M&S café space.

“As the countdown to opening day begins, we would like to invite local people to come and see the new store for themselves on June 5.”

The new 9,000 square feet store has created 80 new jobs in the area and will feature a 50-seat M&S café and an in-store bakery, offering a range of specialty breads, pastries and cakes.

The store will stock almost 4,000 food and drink lines, including the Modern Asian range, the Delicious and Nutritious healthy eating range and the popular M&S Dine In offers will feature in the Yate shop. A selection of flowers and cards will also be sold.

In addition, the store will offer the popular Shop Your Way service where customers can order anything from the full M&S line with free delivery to the Yate branch.