Harlequin Shopping Centre
Encyclopedia
The Harlequin Centre, in the centre of Watford
, is the biggest shopping centre in Hertfordshire
, in the United Kingdom
, and is visited by over 17 million customers each year. It was built as a rival to Brent Cross
and opened in 1992.
The centre contains a number of retailers, including John Lewis
, bhs
, Marks & Spencer
, Zara
, and Next.
During the development of the centre, listed high street buildings were renovated and Queen's Road was maintained as a cross route through the town.
It is a glass roofed structure, with symmetrical malls. A gallery on the third floor exhibits the work of local artists.
The Sainsbury's store on Queen's Road and the Odeon
cinema on the High Street were bought and demolished (1983) to create space for the centre and a warehouse.
By 1992, this sub-regional shopping centre had caused most of the local high street shops to go out of business.
Councillors wanted a swimming element in the complex ‘to retain life in the evenings’ but the developers decided that swimming and shopping would not mix. The Council settled for building Watford Springs swimming and leisure centre on the old Benskin's Brewery site on the High Street. After eleven years, the leisure centre was knocked down, costing around £12,000,000 total.
The council is currently in talks with developers interested in regenerating neighbouring Charter Place
, and have issued a planning brief. Watford Borough Council have the planning brief on their website and announced in September 2009 that they have shortlisted five organisation for this role which will bring a better retail offer and connectivity to The Harlequin Centre.
) and is about 10 minutes walk from Watford Junction (National Rail
and London Overground
). Croxley Rail Link
will bring this station into use as an underground stop on the Metropolitan line.
circles the shopping centre providing access for cars to the car parks.
, and some go through the town. There are bike sheds in the town centre.
Watford
Watford is a town and borough in Hertfordshire, England, situated northwest of central London and within the bounds of the M25 motorway. The borough is separated from Greater London to the south by the urbanised parish of Watford Rural in the Three Rivers District.Watford was created as an urban...
, is the biggest shopping centre in Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England. The county town is Hertford.The county is one of the Home Counties and lies inland, bordered by Greater London , Buckinghamshire , Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire and...
, in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, and is visited by over 17 million customers each year. It was built as a rival to Brent Cross
Brent Cross
Brent Cross is an area of north London, in the London Borough of Barnet. It is located near the A41 Brent Cross Flyover over the A406 North Circular Road. Brent Cross is best known for its shopping centre and the proposed Brent Cross Cricklewood development....
and opened in 1992.
The centre contains a number of retailers, including John Lewis
John Lewis (department store)
-Recent developments:In June 2004, John Lewis announced plans to open its first store in Northern Ireland at the Sprucefield Park development, the province's largest out of town shopping centre, located outside Lisburn and from Belfast. The application was approved in June 2005 and the opening of...
, bhs
Bhs
BHS Limited is a British department store chain with branches mainly located in high street locations, primarily selling clothing and household items such as bedlinen, cutlery, crockery and lighting. The company has 187 stores throughout the United Kingdom...
, Marks & Spencer
Marks & Spencer
Marks and Spencer plc is a British retailer headquartered in the City of Westminster, London, with over 700 stores in the United Kingdom and over 300 stores spread across more than 40 countries. It specialises in the selling of clothing and luxury food products...
, Zara
Zara (clothing)
Zara is a Spanish clothing and accessories retailer based in Arteixo, Galicia, and founded in 1975 by Amancio Ortega and Rosalía Mera. It is the flagship chain store of the Inditex group; the fashion group also owns brands such as Massimo Dutti, Pull and Bear, Oysho, Uterqüe, Stradivarius and...
, and Next.
Design and development
It is a glass roofed structure, with symmetrical malls. A gallery on the third floor exhibits the work of local artists.
History
The 1962 estimate was £3,000,000 to include a ten-pin bowling alley and 130 flats, and this rose to £130,000,000 when the plans were presented in 1986.The Sainsbury's store on Queen's Road and the Odeon
Odeon Cinemas
Odeon Cinemas is a British chain of cinemas, one of the largest in Europe. It is owned by Odeon & UCI Cinemas Group whose ultimate parent is Terra Firma Capital Partners.-History:Odeon Cinemas was created in 1928 by Oscar Deutsch...
cinema on the High Street were bought and demolished (1983) to create space for the centre and a warehouse.
By 1992, this sub-regional shopping centre had caused most of the local high street shops to go out of business.
Councillors wanted a swimming element in the complex ‘to retain life in the evenings’ but the developers decided that swimming and shopping would not mix. The Council settled for building Watford Springs swimming and leisure centre on the old Benskin's Brewery site on the High Street. After eleven years, the leisure centre was knocked down, costing around £12,000,000 total.
The council is currently in talks with developers interested in regenerating neighbouring Charter Place
Charter Place
Charter Place is a shopping centre located in Watford, England. It is owned and operated by Watford Borough Council.It is linked on both ground and first floor into The Harlequin Centre.-Retailers:Accessories*Claires Accessories,*The Bag House....
, and have issued a planning brief. Watford Borough Council have the planning brief on their website and announced in September 2009 that they have shortlisted five organisation for this role which will bring a better retail offer and connectivity to The Harlequin Centre.
Rail
The centre is closely served by Watford High Street station (London OvergroundLondon Overground
London Overground is a suburban rail network in London and Hertfordshire. It has been operated by London Overground Rail Operations since 2007 as part of the National Rail network, under the franchise control and branding of Transport for London...
) and is about 10 minutes walk from Watford Junction (National Rail
National Rail
National Rail is a title used by the Association of Train Operating Companies as a generic term to define the passenger rail services operated in Great Britain...
and London Overground
London Overground
London Overground is a suburban rail network in London and Hertfordshire. It has been operated by London Overground Rail Operations since 2007 as part of the National Rail network, under the franchise control and branding of Transport for London...
). Croxley Rail Link
Croxley Rail Link
The Croxley Rail Link is a railway engineering proposal to re-route part of a London Underground line in Hertfordshire, outside London, UK. The project would divert Metropolitan line Watford branch services after station away from station to via intermediate stations using a reopened section of...
will bring this station into use as an underground stop on the Metropolitan line.
Road
The Watford Ring RoadWatford Ring Road
The Watford Ring Road is a road located in Watford, Hertfordshire, UK. It is numbered A411, and serves as a one way system around the town centre...
circles the shopping centre providing access for cars to the car parks.
Bike
There are many cycle paths in WatfordWatford
Watford is a town and borough in Hertfordshire, England, situated northwest of central London and within the bounds of the M25 motorway. The borough is separated from Greater London to the south by the urbanised parish of Watford Rural in the Three Rivers District.Watford was created as an urban...
, and some go through the town. There are bike sheds in the town centre.