Cork’s Blackpool Shopping Centre adds three new retailers

In a further sign that recovery in the retail sector in spreading outside of Dublin, three retailers have just joined the tenant line-up at Cork city’s Blackpool Shopping Centre and Retail Park.

Discount store Dealz, technology and entertainment retailer CeX and outdoor equipment chain Trespass have all recently opened stores at the centre in advance of the busy Christmas shopping season.

Sharon Walsh of HWBC, who handled the lettings, says the three new retailers will add to the "excellent mix of stores" in Blackpool, while highlighting the demand for retail space from national and international retailers.

Dealz has taken a 790sq m (8,500sq ft) store in Blackpool Retail Park on a 10-year lease at a rent of around €200,000 per annum.

It already has over 40 stores across Ireland, where its value offering has proved popular with shoppers.

In the adjacent shopping centre, CeX has opened its 25th Irish store in a 116sq m (1,250sq ft) unit on a 10-year lease at a rent of €50,000 per annum. This is CeX’s third Cork store, offering mobile phones, video games, DVDs, computers, and TVs.

Trespass, the camping and outdoor specialist, has opened its 12th Irish store at Blackpool in a 103sq m (1,110sq ft) unit. It will pay a base rent and a turnover related top-up.

Blackpool Shopping Centre and Retail Park includes around 38,090sq m (410,000sq ft) of retail space and some 7,432sq m (80,000 sq ft) of high-end office space.

It attracts over 6.5 million visitors annually and offers 1,800 free car-parking spaces. Its retail line-up includes Dunnes, Aldi, Next, Boots, Woodies, New Look, Lifestyle Sports, Argos and McDonald's.

Ciara Connolly of DTZ acted for CeX and Mark Thallon of TDK Properties acted for Dealz.

HWBC and DTZ are joint letting agents on Blackpool Shopping Centre and Retail Park.