Two local lads will be launching this week’s Christmas musical spectacular at Yate Shopping Centre on Thursday, 10th November.

Local talent, Jake Maddocks, kicks the evening off at 5pm before Ben Lea, a hairdresser at the local LA shop, takes over at 5.10pm.

The stars of the evening – Black Lace, S Club, and Atomic Kitten – complete the line-up for the evening.

The full schedule is:

5.00pm                 Jake Maddocks, Local talent

5.10pm                 Ben Lea, Local Talent is a hairdresser at LA Barber

5.30pm                 Black Lace

6.00pm                 S Club

6.30pm                 Atomic Kitten

7.00pm                 Finale song and goodnight

On Saturday, 19th November, there will be a Christmas Parade at Noon and 2pm featuring a trail of attractions for children including:

• Camel
• Ponies
• Penguin
• Reindeer
• Snow Cats
• Shining Stars
• Christmas Tree and Santa in his sleigh

The stage and parade will be in the Centre Square.

Further information on the programme and other events at the Shopping Centre is available at www.yateshoppingcentre.co.uk

For further information, please contact Dan Bramwell, Bramwell Associates (Public Affairs) Mobile: 07968 304237 or e-mail: dbramwell0724@outlook.com

The new T K Maxx store at Yate Riverside will open on Thursday, 15th September.

The store is the third and final major retailer to open in the cinema-led Yate Riverside scheme which started trading last December.

The new store, covering 22,000 square feet, will sell a range of men’s and women’s clothing, shoes, accessories & handbags, and completes the retail line-up alongside Pets at Home and Next at the new leisure complex, which is anchored by the Cineworld 6-screen multiplex which opened in April this year.

Yate Shopping Centre Manager, Andrew Lowrey: “T K Maxx will be a tremendous boost to Yate Shopping Centre being a well-known high street name and will complement the existing shops.

“When we did our survey work back in 2008, local people were asking us to incorporate more fashion and now we have a diverse range of outlets suiting all ages, styles and budgets.

“The summer months have been very busy with footfall showing an increase over last year as the Centre now begins to settle down after several years of building and development and customers attracted by a packed summer activity schedule.

“Already we have three interested parties taking short-term leases for the Christmas period – The Christmas Shop who will occupy The Entertainer unit; Calendar Club and Giftbox.

“We will be announcing our Christmas schedule in due course but everybody should put 10^th November in their diaries for the official launch.”

It may only be October but already some of the more popular Christmas shops are making a comeback, preparing for when the festivities kick-off in mid-November.

Gift Box, What Christmas and Calendar Club have all taken units in West Walk and are now all trading A new addition to the Shopping Centre’s Christmas pop-up shops is the independent Parody Portraits that will be taking 12 South Walk and is due to open 10th November. Among the novelties on sale will be custom drawn caricatures and other select gifts.

Centre Manager, Andrew Lowrey: “There is always great demand at this time of year from the pop-up shops looking to establish themselves well before we launch the Christmas festivities, Thursday, 10th November this year. “It’s the first time that Parody Portraits has taken space with us and brings a new dimension to our offering alongside the old favourites of Calendar Club, Gift Box and What Christmas”. Calendar Club will have its usual vast selection of calendars, planners and diaries on offer whilst What Christmas sells a range of Christmas decorations, trees and cards and also have a massive Halloween section. Gift Box sells a wide selection of gifts for the home.

Atomic Kitten, S Club 3, Kavana and Black Lace are just some of the acts that will

launch this year’s Yate Shopping Centre Christmas festivities on Thursday, 10th

November.

The ‘Now That’s What I Call Christmas’ spectacular will kick off at 5pm in West Walk

with over four hours of free music including several local acts to support the stars.

Tracy King, the Centre’s Marketing Manager: “The launch of the Christmas festivities

is always a popular evening show and this year we have a high quality line up of acts

to keep the crowds entertained.

“The full Christmas programme will be announced in due course but with acts like

these I recommend everybody makes a note in their diaries now so as not to miss

out!

“Already the usual pop-up shops are opening so Christmas will kick-off with a real

bang immediately after Bonfire Night.

“Before that we have a packed Halloween Spooktacular programme running during

half term week, 24th – 30th October with many activities to keep the children – and

some adults – amused.”

Further information on the programme and other events at the Shopping Centre is

available at www.yateshoppingcentre.co.uk

Vacancy rates at Yate Shopping Centre have fallen to a near all-time low following a rush of enquiries for vacant units.

Meanwhile works to amalgamate the final retail unit at Yate Riverside, the recently opened cinema-led leisure complex, are on schedule and the units were handed over to T K Maxx last week for fitout.

The works included the amalgamation of the final ground floor retail unit with a restaurant unit and first floor space to make a single 20,000 square foot unit which is scheduled to open in late September/early October.

All tenants at Yate Riverside, many of which have now been open for over six months, are experiencing good footfall and healthy trading.

Steve Plank, Cineworld Yate General Manager, comments: “We’re really pleased with how popular Cineworld Yate has become since the opening in April. The response from the local community has been fantastic, we constantly receive positive feedback on our welcoming staff and state of the art cinema. 2016 has shaped up to be an unmissable year of film, with the likes of Ice Age: Collision Course out now and the hotly anticipated Suicide Squad coming next month!”

In the main Shopping Centre, Pandora, which sells a variety of necklaces, rings, customisable charm bracelets & more, opened in 25 East Walk earlier in July and is trading ‘above expectations’ .

North Walk, which has been the Centre Management’s main point of concentration in recent months, is now experiencing interest from a variety of retailers as Centre Manager, Andy Lowrey, explains: “The vacancy rates in North Walk have always been higher than the remainder of the Centre but there are now several operators showing interest in taking units there.

“It is a key access into the heart of the Centre from the North Parade which has itself undergone substantial changes over the last couple of years with Bottelinos and Hotcha opening. With new retailers showing interest in North Walk there could be only five vacancies in the entire centre as we head into the latter part of the year, well below the 12.5% national average.

“This proves Yate’s popularity as a shopping and leisure destination offering a wide spectrum of family attractions, extended dining experiences including Sunday lunches at Botellinos where kids eat free, through to a wide variety of shops offering a diverse selection of goods and services.

“It is interesting times for the Centre and its traders with Brexit and the current uncertainty. I believe we are well positioned to meet the challenges of the next few years and will come out stronger and more resilient in the long term”.

In North Parade alongside Bottelinos, Max’s Gelati Ice Cream Parlour has recently opened, selling ice creams, shakes, and waffles.

Meanwhile in North Walk, Homecrafters has extended its tenure in unit 6-8 North Walk until December 2016, and Grape Tree, a health food shop offering a range of healthy food products and snacks, recently opened in the former Burger King unit at 2 West Walk.

Andy Lowrey:”There has been a lot of interest in the former Entertainer unit in West Walk but these larger units are always harder to fill as the audience is more limited.”

A feast of entertainment is scheduled for Yate Shopping Centre during this year’s Summer holidays.

Up to a dozen events will run during the months of July and August, each between 11.00am and 3.00pm, featuring some old favorites alongside some brand new shows.

Tracy King, the Shopping Centre’s Marketing Manager: “There is a fantastic line-up for this year’s summer holiday schedule with acts ranging from tribute bands to puppeteers and magic shows to a calypso band. The acts offer a wide variety of entertainment which will appeal to visitors of all ages.

“The program is centered around the ever popular beach in the central square which, has proved as popular as ever and draws in the crowds on a daily basis.”

The planned schedule is:

26th July Magic Show

27th July Abba Tribute Band

28th July Blues Brothers

2nd August Britain’s Got Talent Stars

4th August Punch & Judy

9th August Calypso Band

11th August Puppeteer Jungle Jim

16th August Katy Perry and Lady Gaga Tribute Acts

18th August Punch & Judy

23rd August Kids Disco

25th August Jedi Training Academy

The final pieces of the jigsaw are now falling into place at Yate Riverside as works start on preparing the T K Maxx store and Dean’s Diner opens its doors to the public in what are described as two more very significant offers at the Yate Riverside leisure scheme. The current two ground floor and one first floor units, which will form the T K Maxx store, are currently being amalgamated into a single unit totaling 22,000 square feet. These works are scheduled to be completed by late July when they will be handed over to the retailer for fit out with store opening scheduled for October. T K Maxx, which sells a range of men’s and women’s clothing, shoes, accessories & handbags, will complete the retail line-up at Yate Riverside, joining Pets at Home and Next at the new leisure complex, which is anchored by the Cineworld 6-screen multiplex which opened at the end of April.

Andy Lowrey, Centre Manager: “T K Maxx will bring a further wide selection of clothing offers to the Centre, something that was identified as a key requirement by local residents when the public consultation for the scheme was undertaken about two years ago. “It is the final piece in the jigsaw puzzle at Yate Riverside which now has the three key retailers in place. The restaurant line-up is now also complete with Dean’s Diner opening this week, joining Prezzo, Nando’s and Frankie & Benny’s, all of which support the new Cineworld cinema, to boost the town’s nighttime economy.

Dean’s Diner is a 60s American themed diner enhanced by a retro jukebox, offering a wide range of complementary dishes reneging from classic hamburgers and hotdogs to salads and tortilla wraps.

Andy Lowrey: “This development has been a long time in the making but now Yate has its own evening leisure venue, an aspiration that has taken over ten years to deliver. There are still a couple of holes to fill, such as the coffee pod and occupancy of an upper floor unit but these are progressing. “Similarly, there is activity on some of the vacant units in the main centre but these things all take time and hopefully we will be able to release news about more occupiers in the very near future.”.

Yate Shopping Centre’s beach will be making a return appearance from 9th May for the summer months.

Always a popular attraction, the beach will open on Monday, 9th May and stay in-situ in the Central Square until August Bank Holiday Monday, 29th August.

Shopping Centre Marketing Manager, Tracy King, says: “The beach is without doubt our most popular summer event, attracting children of all ages and putting a real summer feel into the Centre. There will be other school holiday time entertainment attractions running alongside it but whatever the weather parents can always rely on bringing their children to play in the Centre’s sand.”

With Cineworld opening on Friday, 29th April and so many new restaurants recently opened at Yate Riverside, Yate Shopping Centre is fast becoming a popular leisure destination for families.

Centre Manager, Andrew Lowrey: “It has always been our intention to make the Shopping Centre as much a leisure as a retail destination so that local residents have facilities on their doorstep. Whereas the cinema and restaurants are there all year round, the addition of the popular event attractions such as the beach adds that extra dimension for parents and children.”

Dean’s Diner, scheduled to open in the first half of May, will be joining the already established Yate Riverside eating venues Frankie & Bennys, Nando’s, Prezzo, and Bottelinos in North Parade in the main Centre.

Another popular attraction making a return after a recent short appearance is Homecrafters who will be selling their wares in units 6-8 North Walk throughout May to July.

The Homecrafters experience will be returning to Yate Shopping Centre on Saturday, 26th March at 6-8 North Walk.

This attraction has evolved into an amazing and very exciting family day out with the traditional craft market along with plenty of easter activities to keep children occupied.

The crafts market will be packed full of beautiful gifts, treats, hands-on experiences and home décor items whilst the children will be able to enter an Easter colouring competition and take part in a traditional Easter Egg Hunt.

Kirsty from Homecrafters: “Easter is sure to start with a bang at our Easter Eggstravaganza at the Shopping Centre this week. We have a fun-packed day planned with plenty of hands-on events for visitors. Young fans will be able to meet and spend time with Elsa from Frozen who will be helping them with activities.

“We will be asking our local crafters to help participants complete the treasure hunt route around our shop, ensuring that every child is a winner!”

The ‘Come Make It’ corner is returning with some inspiring hands-on craft workshop projects for everyone of all ages to get involved with, ranging from  badge making to egg painting, finger puppet creating and sun catcher decorating.

The fun doesn’t end there as there will be a very special guest: the Dazzling Damsels will be appearing in the form of the one and only Snow Queen herself, Elsa from Frozen who will be taking part in activities and available to meet and greet her young fans.

Events get underway from 10am. Visit http://homecrafters.co.uk/ for more information.

Story taken for Yate & Sodbury Gazette 16th March 2016

LUXURY jewellery brand Pandora is in discussions with Yate Shopping Centre, it has been confirmed.

The popular chain store, which sells women’s bracelets, charms, earrings and rings, is said to be in early negotiations with centre owners Crestbridge Corporate Trustees about taking the lease of a unit in Yate.

It is not yet known whether Pandora, which also has stores at The Mall at Cribbs Causeway and in Cabot Circus, Bristol, would move into a new unit at Yate Riverside, the shopping centre’s new retail and leisure development on Link Road, or into the shopping centre itself.

A Yate Shopping Centre spokesman said: “Pandora has been in discussions with us about taking a unit but these discussions are at a very early stage and any lease will be subject to the necessary legal and contractual agreements.

“Whereas we welcome any new tenants, we do not envisage the potential tenant occupying the unit for some weeks yet.”

Recruitment agency Reed has this week advertised for a store manager and deputy store manager for a Pandora shop in Yate.

The advert said: “We have a fantastic opportunity for a talented manager to head our new Pandora team in the Yate store opening soon.”