Kingfisher Shopping Centre
Encyclopedia
Kingfisher Shopping Centre is a shopping centre in Redditch
, England. It contains 160 stores, with a range of large and smaller units, including anchor tenants Debenhams
and Primark
. There are also several restaurants & cafes, an Apollo Cinema
and a Bus Station,
and now forms the town's primary retail centre. It is well known for its palm trees
in the centre's Worcester Square.
The original trees and their accompanying fountain were removed by the centre's management after health and safety fears relating to the age of the trees, which were nearly thirty years old. More appropriate palm trees were planted after the 2002 redevelopment, and remain as of 2009.
The centre is also well known for its large mosaic panels designed by famous Scottish artist and sculptor, Sir Eduardo Paolozzi
, which are the largest publicly commissioned work of Art in Britain, and valued at several Millions of Pounds. These Mosaics are located in the part of the Kingfisher known as Milward Square, which was named in honour of Henry Milward & Sons
aka Milwards Needles, Redditch's oldest and largest Needle manufacturer. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and John & Rosemary Milward (owners of Barlow Woodseats Hall
and representing the Milward family) opened Milward Square in 1983.
Redditch
Redditch is a town and local government district in north-east Worcestershire, England, approximately south of Birmingham. The district had a population of 79,216 in 2005. In the 19th century it became the international centre for the needle and fishing tackle industry...
, England. It contains 160 stores, with a range of large and smaller units, including anchor tenants Debenhams
Debenhams
Debenhams plc is a British retailer operating under a department store format in the UK, Ireland and Denmark, and franchise stores in other countries. The Company was founded in the eighteenth century as a single store in London and has now grown to around 160 shops...
and Primark
Primark
Primark is a clothing retailer, operating over 223 stores in Ireland , the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Germany, Spain, Portugal and Belgium...
. There are also several restaurants & cafes, an Apollo Cinema
Apollo Cinemas
Apollo Cinemas is a locally focused, independently owned multiplex cinema operator in the United Kingdom. Its stated mission is to welcome, engage and delight local audiences with a variety of onscreen entertainment and well designed, comfortable cinemas...
and a Bus Station,
History
Kingfisher Shopping Centre was opened in 1976 by the then Prime Minister James CallaghanJames Callaghan
Leonard James Callaghan, Baron Callaghan of Cardiff, KG, PC , was a British Labour politician, who was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1976 to 1979 and Leader of the Labour Party from 1976 to 1980...
and now forms the town's primary retail centre. It is well known for its palm trees
Arecaceae
Arecaceae or Palmae , are a family of flowering plants, the only family in the monocot order Arecales. There are roughly 202 currently known genera with around 2600 species, most of which are restricted to tropical, subtropical, and warm temperate climates...
in the centre's Worcester Square.
The original trees and their accompanying fountain were removed by the centre's management after health and safety fears relating to the age of the trees, which were nearly thirty years old. More appropriate palm trees were planted after the 2002 redevelopment, and remain as of 2009.
The centre is also well known for its large mosaic panels designed by famous Scottish artist and sculptor, Sir Eduardo Paolozzi
Eduardo Paolozzi
Sir Eduardo Luigi Paolozzi, KBE, RA , was a Scottish sculptor and artist. He was a major figure in the international art sphere, while, working on his own interpretation and vision of the world. Paolozzi investigated how we can fit into the modern world to resemble our fragmented civilization...
, which are the largest publicly commissioned work of Art in Britain, and valued at several Millions of Pounds. These Mosaics are located in the part of the Kingfisher known as Milward Square, which was named in honour of Henry Milward & Sons
Henry Milward & Sons
Henry Milward & Sons is a British manufacturer of sewing needles..Entaco as featured on the One Show on BBC One are the suppliers of John James Needles but with the majority being imported from China to their specifications and not in Redditch as portrayed on the programme.The earliest reference...
aka Milwards Needles, Redditch's oldest and largest Needle manufacturer. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and John & Rosemary Milward (owners of Barlow Woodseats Hall
Barlow Woodseats Hall
Barlow Woodseats Hall is a Grade II* listed manor house situated at Barlow Woodseats, on the edge of the village of Barlow, in Derbyshire. It remains the only manor house in the Parish of Barlow, and the current house dates from the early 17th century, although there are much earlier origins.-...
and representing the Milward family) opened Milward Square in 1983.
Major Stores
- ArgosArgos (retailer)Argos is the largest general-goods retailer in the United Kingdom and Ireland with over 800 stores. It is unique amongst major retailers in the UK in that it is a catalogue merchant...
- BootsBoots UKBoots UK Limited , is a leading pharmacy chain in the United Kingdom, with outlets in most high streets throughout the country...
- BHS
- Burton/Dorothy PerkinsDorothy PerkinsDorothy Perkins, whose trading name was inspired by a rambler rose of the same name, is a large British women's clothing retailer, active mostly in the United Kingdom.- History :...
- DebenhamsDebenhamsDebenhams plc is a British retailer operating under a department store format in the UK, Ireland and Denmark, and franchise stores in other countries. The Company was founded in the eighteenth century as a single store in London and has now grown to around 160 shops...
- F. HindsF. HindsF. Hinds is a jewellery retailing chain, operating in England and Wales. There are currently 110 F Hinds stores within the United Kingdom.The chain is an independent retailer which was founded in 1856 by George Henry Hinds, although his father Joseph was also a clockmaker in Stamford,...
- GameGAME (retailer)The Game Group plc is a British video games retail company. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE SmallCap Index....
- H&MH&MH & M Hennes & Mauritz AB is a Swedish retail-clothing company, known for its fast-fashion clothing offerings for women, men, teenagers and children....
- hmvHMV GroupHMV is a British global entertainment retail chain and is the largest of its kind in the United Kingdom and Ireland. The company also operates in Hong Kong and Singapore. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE Fledgling Index...
- JD SportsJD SportsJD Sports Fashion plc, more commonly known as just JD, is a sports-fashion retail company based in Bury, Greater Manchester, England with shops throughout the United Kingdom and with one in Ireland...
- Marks & SpencerMarks & SpencerMarks 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...
- New Look
- NextNext (retailer)Next plc is a British retailer marketing clothing, footwear, accessories and home products with its headquarters in Enderby, Leicestershire, England. The company has over 550 stores throughout the UK and the Republic of Ireland, and 50 franchise branches in Europe, Asia and the Middle East...
- Peacocks
- PrimarkPrimarkPrimark is a clothing retailer, operating over 223 stores in Ireland , the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Germany, Spain, Portugal and Belgium...
- River IslandRiver IslandRiver Island is one of Britain's best known high street fashion brands and can be found in most cities across the UK. The brand also has stores in Singapore, Turkey, Poland, Ireland, the Netherlands, and the Middle East.-History:...
- TK Maxx
- Waterstones
- Wilkinson