Dubstep duo MK1 are to accompany Steps at Yate Shopping Centre’s Christmas launch on Thursday, 15^thNovember. The couple were recently eliminated from the X Factor competition and are currently in the middle of their ‘Anybody Out There?’ national tour. They will be playing on stage at 5.40pm and will reappear on stage at about 6.40pm to turn on the Centre’s Christmas lights with Steps.

Tracy King, Yate Shopping Centre Marketing Manager, said:  “MK1 and Steps is a formidable line-up and will give a real buzz to the evening.  With the wide range of artists appearing, there will be music for all tastes and a great way to kick-off the Christmas festivities.”

The Thursday evening musical extravaganza is part of a two day Christmas bonanza with a family super funday on Saturday, 17^th November.

On Thursday, the musical entertainment will commence at 3pm with our well loved Calypso Band performing festive tunes, followed by a variety of local acts including a fabulous hour of ABBA from the well known ABBA tribute band ABBA Vision, and X Factor finalists MK1 at 5.40pm. At 6.15pm STEPS will perform two singles from their Christmas album along with a couple of favourites that everyone can join in with. At 6.40pm STEPS and the X Factor star will then be invited back onto the stage to turn on the Christmas lights.

On Saturday the entertainment is aimed entirely at the children with Santa arriving on his pantomime ponies at Noon to set off three hours of party fun including stilt walkers, Cheeky Elves balloon modelling, Make your own Christmas Cracker, face painting, Roller Skating Christmas Pudding, Roller Skating Snowman, Twinkle the Christmas Tree, and a fun fair.

As works get under way to build four new large retail units in East Walk, five retailers have signed leases to take retail units in the centre’s walkways and more could be on the way in the near future.

Roman Ladies Fashion who are a national retailer with over 55 stores  and 100 concessions have opened in East Walk and Red 60 Ladies fashion have opened in West Walk. With Christmas around the corner 3 new shops that focus on the festivities and gift market have opened new stores.  What Party and Gift Box have opened in West Walk & Calendar Club in East Walk.

Andrew Lowrey, Yate Shopping Centre Manager, said: “It is good to see new retailers coming to the Centre especially after such a trying year for the retail industry. It demonstrates that Yate is still an attractive draw to many independent retailers and high street names. We hope to announce a further two new tenants in the very near future and our letting agents are working hard to attract retailers for the remaining vacant units.

“It is important that we have as many shops occupied and a wide variety on offer to attract the shoppers as we head towards Christmas. With Steps and many other family attractions, our Christmas Launch on Thursday 15th October will be a major draw and a fantastic opportunity for traders to lay out their stalls for the build-up to what is traditionally the busiest time of the year.

“The works for the new M&S Simply Food, Sports Direct and Costa Coffee are now well underway but will not be a major disturbance to shoppers in the lead-up to Christmas. Yate Shopping Centre offer 4 hours free parking and with the centre becoming busier we hope that shoppers will use the overflow car park off Link Road and use public transport whenever possible. “

Olympic heptathlete Louise Hazel will be guest of honour on Friday, 2^ndNovember at the celebrations to mark the re-opening of the Lloyds TSB Bank branch in East Walk, Yate Shopping Centre following weeks of refurbishment although the bank will start trading again from Tuesday, 30^thOctober.

Louise will be bringing an Olympic torch with her and there will be face painting for all to enjoy. The Bank is also looking to raise funds for local Charity “CORIN’S FIRST STEPS”.

The refurbishment is part of the Bank’s commitment to its branch network. The Yate branch has been serving its customers in Yate for over 30 years.

Senior Bank Manager Marc Ashley comments: “We’d like to say a big thank you to all of our customers for putting up with the disruption during the refurbishment works.

“Branches are at the heart of how we serve customers and we are delighted to have made these improvements. We look forward to helping our many customers in Yate and to welcoming new customers and business over the coming months.”

Yate Shopping Centre Manager, Andrew Lowrey, said: “We welcome this transformation and wish Lloyds TSB every success for the next 30 years!

“This is another demonstration of the commitment that our tenants have in the future of the shopping centre. Over the last few years we have seen very substantial investment in the Shopping Centre from the new Tesco Extra to a new health centre, refurbished library and leisure centre and have just started work on four more major retail units.”

The new look branch provides a more welcoming and comfortable environment in which to do business. With improved access to branch staff and services, customers at the branch will continue to get help with their everyday banking and also with their financial needs when required.

The many changes to be introduced include open plan till positions to make the branch

more interactive and personable; downstairs office space; downstairs office space for customer services; and more space to help accommodate buggies and wheelchairs.

Long serving bank employee, Pam Gardner who joined the branch in 1972 said, “It’s great to see the branch looking so bright and modern. I can’t wait to get back to doing what we do best, serving customers in our fantastic new environment.”

Work on the new retail units in East Walk gets underway next week with the demolition of the existing toilets and changes in the car park layout to the north of the Tesco store.

The construction area will be hoarded off as from Monday, 15^th October. This will involve substantial changes in the area adjacent to East Walk including the temporary loss of up to 100 car parking spaces.

Yate Shopping Centre Manager, Andrew Lowrey: “We will be erecting hoardings around the proposed development area which will, unfortunately, lead to a temporary loss of parking spaces. However, we will be working with the traders and contractors to ensure that any loss is kept to a minimum.

“Over the next few months we ask all shoppers to co-operate by following any signage and use public transport if they can or to make use of the overflow car park”.

The first phase of the works will involve erection of temporary toilets in West Walk whilst new facilities are being built opposite the Westgate Health Centre.

The existing facilities are being demolished to make way for the four new large retail units which will be occupied by Marks & Spencer Simply Food, Sports Direct and Costa Coffee.

Andrew Lowrey: “We will be announcing a further new operator in the near future but these operators are major coups for Yate and shows national confidence in the Centre’s draw as a shopping destination”.

The building works are expected to be finished by March 2013 with the new operators opening in Spring next year. Full details of the works are available either on the Yate Shopping Centre website (www.yateshoppingcentre.co.uk) or on the noticeboards in the Centre.

‘Steps’ will launch this year’s Yate Shopping Centre two day Christmas bonanza on Thursday, 15^thNovember as part of a musical extravaganza followed by a family super funday on Saturday, 17^thNovember.

On Thursday, the musical entertainment will commence at 3pm with our well loved Calypso Band performing festive tunes,  followed by a variety of local acts including a fabulous hour of ABBA from the well known ABBA tribute band ABBA Vision, culminating in an appearance from an X Factor finalist at 5.40pm. At  6.15pm STEPS will performing two singles from their Christmas album along with a couple of favourites that everyone can join in with. At 6.40pm STEPS and the X Factor star will then be invited back on the stage to turn on the Christmas lights.

Tracy King Marketing Manager: “Christmas is always a highlight at the Shopping Centre and this year will be no exception. We’ve broken the Christmas launch into two sections. Saturday is very much a children’s day out with a real party atmosphere and plenty of activities for them to watch and get involved in.

“Thursday evening when the lights will be switched on promises to be as colourful and vibrant as ever with a whole host of local musicians and one of the country’s leading pop groups finishing the show. There’ll be music for all tastes!”

November is a busy period for STEPS who on Monday, 12^thlaunch their Christmas album – ‘Light up the World’ – and start a six day Christmas tour in Plymouth on 30^thNovember.

On Saturday the entertainment is aimed entirely at the children with Santa arriving on his pantomime ponies at Noon to set off three hours of party fun including stilt walkers, Cheeky Elves balloon modelling, Make your own Christmas Cracker, face painting, Roller Skating Christmas Pudding, Roller Skating Snowman, Twinkle the Christmas Tree, and a fun fair.

Andrew Lowrey: “Despite the fact that we will have building works for the four new large retail units going on in East Walk, we will ensure there is a traditional Christmas feel to the Centre with decorations throughout. For the traders Christmas is always a crucial period and we believe we have a first class package of entertainment to kick things off!”

Yate Shopping Centre has won the Amberol Cup for the Best Business Floral Display in the 2012 South West in Bloom Awards, part of the RHS Britain in Bloom competition.

Commenting on the win, Centre Manager, Andrew Lowrey, said: “Every year we play a major part in the town’s Britain in Bloom campaign and we are proud that the centre caught the judges eyes. It’s a great credit to our team that we have won the South West award for the best business display. It reflects well on the town as well as the Shopping Centre.

“One of our local independent retailers ‘Merediths’ supplies the flowers annually and the centre recently invested in new planters which has seen bigger and brighter flower displays. The investment certainly has been worthwhile resulting in great feedback from our customers and winning the Amberol Cup.”

Local Britain in Bloom Chair, Councillor Sue Walker, said: “We value the work that Andy and his team at the Shopping Centre put in to support our annual Yate in Bloom entry. We’re obviously very pleased for them to win the Amberol Cup and it’s a major boost for the town and our efforts as well.”

The annual Britain in Bloom is an important element of Yate Shopping Centre’s local corporate responsibility campaign, working closely with the Town Council and other major stakeholders throughout the year.

Work is to start in mid-October on the next phase of the extension to Yate Shopping Centre.

The 50,000 sq ft extension will be directly opposite the Tesco Extra in East Walk and will accommodate M&S Simply Food, Costa and Sports Direct.

The existing toilets in East Walk will be demolished prior to works commencing and new modern facilities will be built in West Walk and open prior to completion of the new retail units in East Walk. They will be built to the very latest standards to meet shoppers’ expectations. Temporary facilities will be available during this transition.

Andrew Lowrey, Shopping Centre Manager, said: “We will be working to keep disruption to a minimum over the coming months. The development is part of the owner’s plan to ensure that Yate Shopping Centre remains a top shopping destination.

“There is a high demand for larger retail units to accommodate high street names, even during the current tough economic environment. We expect to announce a tenant for the remaining unit in the near future. We anticipate the building works will be complete by March next year.

“2012 has been a tough but exciting year for the Centre: Wetherspoons has been trading well and we have seen various changes in operators due to the economic climate. However, the arrival of M&S Simply Food, Sports Direct and Costa will be a major boost for us next year”.

Yate Shopping Centre will be launching a full communications programme to advise tenants, shoppers and local residents about the works in the next couple of weeks prior to the starting.

Yate Shopping Centre is staging a full children’s summer activity programme throughout August with events taking place every Friday and Saturday between Noon and 3pm.

The July programme was one of the most successful yet according to Centre Manager, Andrew Lowrey: “Last week’s beach event proved outstandingly popular with many people taking full advantage of the glorious summer weather to let them experience the pleasures of a traditional beach holiday in the centre of Yate!

“The shopping centre experienced its busiest week of 2012 with over 500 children visiting the beach daily. We have received so many positive comments from parents that the beach will be remaining at the centre for a further 2 weeks.

“Augusts’ activities will offer a similar varied programme of fun with a wide variety of activities to attract the crowds. There are both hands-on events and some well known children’s characters to entertain the crowds through the school holidays, some of which are making return visits and others are new to our summer spectacular”.

The events kick-off with an Olympic Party Day on Friday, 3^rdAugust with flag making, juggling ball making face painting, and the chance to meet a & greet the Centre’s very own Olympic mascot bear.

Other activities include a Pirate & Princess Party (4th); Dr Who and Harry Potter Party (10th); bouncy castle (11th); Jigsaw colouring workshop and trinket box decorating (17th); giant game compendium (18th); meet & greet Fifi from Fifi &The Flowertots (24th); mobile climbing wall (25th); steel band due (31st); and meet & greet Sid and Scrat from Ice Age (1st Sept).

Yate Shopping Centre has been awarded The Safer Parking Award, a car park accreditation scheme promoted by the Association of Chief Police Officers and British Parking Association to deliver high quality safe car parks.

The Safer Parking Scheme ensures that venues meet the standards required by police forces to ensure good quality management, effective surveillance, appropriate lighting and a clean environment.

Commenting on the Award, Andrew Lowrey, Yate Shopping Centre Manager, said: “It is a good to be recognised in this way and should reassure all customers that the car park is maintained and run to the very highest standards.

“The car park is one of the key assets of the Shopping Centre. With over 1400 free car parking spaces, it is essential that it functions well and is safe. This award is a testament to the all round effort that our staff and our contractors, UK Parking Control Ltd, put in to ensure that customers can park effectively and feel safe when they are within the Centre.”

Costa Coffee has signed a lease to take a ground floor unit immediately adjacent to Superdrug in the new East Walk development at Yate Shopping Centre.

They will join Sports Direct and Marks & Spencer in the new units with the final occupant still to be confirmed but most likely to be a leading fashion retailer.

Centre Manager, Andrew Lowrey, said: “This is yet another great name for the Centre. We have recently received planning permission for new public toilets in West Walk and the existing facilities will be demolished prior to commencing the build of the new East Walk units in late summer 2012.

“We are already noticing the effects of the recent arrivals to the Centre.  Following the openings of 99p, Poundland, and JD Wetherspoon we have seen an average footfall increase of 27% year-on-year over the last four weeks with Poundland & 99p attracting 20,000 customers per week against just 2,500 attracted previously by BeWise & Peacocks. JD Wetherspoon has proved to be very popular with our customers and we are also seeing new customers visiting Yate Shopping Centre”.

“Importantly this increased footfall is in the heart of the Centre which is generally healthy with strong demand from national retailers. Our vacancy rates are below national averages despite difficult retail trading conditions evidenced by the disappearance of some well known brands over the last few months.”

Andy recently won runner-up in the industry recognised national Sceptre Awards for Shopping Centre Manager of the Year 2012 (Medium Centre), a reflection of his success in managing the Shopping Centre through difficult times.

He continued: “The total investment in Yate Shopping Centre over the last two years including the new retail units in East Walk will be in excess of £30 million – virtually unheard off during times of recession. When the owners – Dominion Corporate Trustees – took over the Centre they said they wanted to see more high street national names as part of the portfolio and better facilities for shoppers.

“These changes are slowly happening and shoppers are noticing the improvements. One request we frequently get asked is for motorcycle stands. Unknown to many there are some in the car park and we are ensuring they are adequately signposted.

“The Award was all about how we relate to our occupiers, customers and the community. The footfall proves we are doing something right and with the new additional shops further new customers will be attracted to the centre”.

Yate Shopping Centre will again be supporting the community through Yate in Bloom this year and has several school holiday community days lined up:

• On Sunday 8^thJuly children will be able to meet old favourite Fireman Sam at 12pm, 1pm, 2pm and 3pm under the events canopy
• 21^stJuly: Teddy Bears Picnic returns between 12pm – 3.00pm in North Walk where free packed lunches will be served. Activities will include enchanting stories from our Bella the Story Teller,  face painting by the lovely ladies of Fizogg; a bouncy castle; and you can meet and greet our Forever Friends Bear
• On 23^rdJuly the Centre’s events canopy will be transformed into a traditional beach with over 60 tonnes of glorious golden sand. Buckets, spades and deck chairs will be available along with various workshops including, sand castle sculpturing, treasure hunt, Punch and Judy show and a beach craft day. The beach will be open Monday – Saturday 9.00 – 4.30 and Sunday 10am – 4pm.