Dobbies Garden Centre Inaugurates Flagship Store at Cotswolds Designer Outlet

Cotswolds Designer Outlet, a premium retail and leisure destination, is celebrating the grand opening of its flagship Dobbies Garden Centre, occupying an impressive 70,000 sq ft area.

This milestone signifies the completion of the initial phase of a 180-acre mixed-use development, which, alongside the designer outlet, encompasses 1,310 residences and substantial infrastructure improvements.

The Dobbies centre ranks among the company's largest locations and stands as the largest in Southwest England, projecting to attract over 750,000 visitors annually. Additionally, Dobbies Garden Centre features a Little Seedlings soft play area and a sprawling 10,000 sq ft restaurant offering all-day dining, enhancing the extensive food and beverage and leisure offerings within the broader scheme. It promises to create an appealing day-out experience for the significant local, regional, and tourist audience.

Upon its launch in 2024, Cotswolds Designer Outlet will emerge as a premier fashion destination, enticing a diverse array of sought-after brands, from premium labels to beloved high street favorites, with year-round discounts of up to 70% off the recommended retail price. The initial phase of the outlet development will span 140,000 sq ft and provide up to 75 contemporary, adaptable units. Subsequently, phase two will expand the total footprint to potentially 90 units across 181,000 sq ft of gross leasable area.

Simon Tothill, Property and Development Director of Robert Hitchins Ltd, expressed, "The opening of Dobbies Garden Centre is a major milestone for one of the most exciting mixed-use developments in the country. Having Dobbies as our leisure anchor is a significant asset to the broader development, enriching the array of offerings it will provide and generating positive synergies throughout the project. We anticipate a substantial number of linked visits once the Designer Outlet section opens."

He further commented, "With Dobbies now accessible to the public, we are thrilled to sustain the momentum across the remainder of this captivating development. The construction of Cotswolds Designer Outlet is scheduled to commence in the spring of next year, and the level of brand interest in the scheme is highly promising, with several major names set to be announced in the coming months."

Graeme Jenkins, CEO of Dobbies Garden Centres, added, "We are proud to be the first to open within what promises to be a fantastic destination for both locals and tourists. We have received an incredibly positive response from our customers thus far, and we are excited to build upon this success moving forward. Our heartfelt thanks to everyone who contributed to this project."