The Cotswold Designer Centre is undergoing an exciting expansion with the addition of a flagship Dobbies Garden Centre, set to be the main leisure anchor. This move aims to attract more consumers and amplify the shopping experience. Construction for the new Dobbies Garden Centre is already underway and is expected to be completed by the following autumn. With a massive size of 74,000 square feet, it will become the largest garden centre in South West England, projected to serve over 750,000 customers annually.
The garden centre will offer a broad range of products, catering to different needs and preferences. Customers can expect to find an extensive selection of plants, houseplants, gardening accessories, outdoor living items, pets, gifting options, and toys. Additionally, the centre will feature a cookshop, home décor section, and an impressive 10,000 square foot restaurant.
Gardening has increasingly become a popular leisure activity, appealing not only to retirees but also to a broader demographic. The presence of the Dobbies Garden Centre is expected to be a significant attraction, particularly due to the centre’s catchment area, which includes Bristol and Birmingham, as well as the millions of tourists visiting the picturesque Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty each year.
In recent times, a strong connection between gardening and fashion has emerged, a trend further fueled by the effects of the pandemic. Brands have been actively providing gardening advice and tips through social media platforms, while others have sought to diversify their offerings by incorporating garden-related products. Notably, fashion brand Joules acquired Garden Trading to complement its fashion range, and Dunhill collaborated with a florist to create a menswear collection inspired by floral motifs. Dobbies has already established fashion connections, with Hotter Shoes introducing concessions targeted at its key customer demographic.
Graeme Jenkins, CEO of Dobbies Garden Centres, is confident that the new mega-garden centre will provide an exceptional shopping experience for customers. Simon Tothill, Property and Development Director of Robert Hitchins Ltd, the developer behind the Cotswold Designer Centre, recognizes the significance of having Dobbies as the leisure anchor. He emphasizes that this reflects the growing demand for a mix of uses in retail destinations and the increasing popularity of gardening as a leisure activity.
The Cotswold Designer Centre is expected to welcome shoppers in 2023. The first phase of development will include 75 retail units spread across 140,000 square feet of space, along with leisure facilities and landscaped areas. In the second phase, the centre will expand to include a total of 90 retail units covering 181,000 square feet. The centre has already attracted significant interest from brands, with many enticed by its promising prospects. The addition of the Dobbies Garden Centre is set to enhance the overall appeal of the Cotswold Designer Centre as a premium retail and leisure destination.
Useful links:
1. Dobbies Garden Centres
2. Cotswold Designer Centre
