London Bridge station to welcome raft of new retail brands
Cath Kidston and Hamleys will open their doors at the station this month while Mac, Rituals, Ted Baker and The Body Shop will join the line-up in the spring. The openings are part of Network Rail’s plans to make the station a flagship destination where people can shop, meet, eat, socialise and travel.
The news follows the recent launch of free Wi-Fi at the station as Network Rail looks to focus on the customer experience.
Hamish Kiernan, commercial director of retail for Network Rail Property, said:
“The transformation of London Bridge station is one of the most ambitious projects that Network Rail has undertaken. It gives us the opportunity to use our expertise to create a great environment and produce a retail offer that exceeds people’s expectations. We’re working exceptionally hard to bring in established, quality brands and create a diverse and eclectic mix of retailers, food and beverage outlets, and places for entertainment."
The £1 billion redevelopment of London Bridge station, part of the Thameslink Programme, includes a range of improvements such as a new concourse, modern facilities, two new entrances on Tooley Street, and 15 fully accessible platforms.
It also includes the opening up of 92,000 square feet of new retail space and more than 70 retail units – the most ever in a Network Rail station.
Network Rail said the improvements are already helping to improve customer satisfaction which rose up to 81.5% between autumn 2016 and autumn 2017. In addition, there was a strong surge in retail sales with revenues climbing by 50.3% between September and November.
Source: theretailbulletin
