The Mall Galleries
Encyclopedia
The Galleries is a shopping mall
situated in the Broadmead
shopping centre in Bristol city centre
, England. Functioning as one of the city's retail malls, it is a three-storey building, opened in 1991, which spans over Fairfax Street, where buildings used to include a large Woolworths and Millets, across to the former site of Fairfax House (built in 1962) where the Galleries car park now stands.
The mall was opened on 15 October 1991 by Lord Mayor of Bristol, Peter Abaraham. It was designed by Leslie Jones.
Unlike with many schemes of its type, the size of Bristol's Broadmead
Centre meant that many major stores simply stayed in existing locations, including Next, Debenhams, House Of Fraser, John Lewis and Marks & Spencers. There was therefore no major 'anchor' store; and within ten years the move of John Lewis to the out-of-town The Mall at Cribbs Causeway (unrelated to the Galleries most recent owner) brought a further reduction in overall visitors to the Broadmead area.
Nearly twenty years later, with the demolition of much of the 1950s and 1960s areas of Broadmead, another large 'semi covered' shopping centre, Cabot Circus
, was built, this time attracting some large stores who had been displaced by the development, including the 2nd relocation of House Of Fraser in a few years.
In 2007 and 2008 the complex underwent a minor facelift, with the inside being re-painted, and the relocation of the lifts, from the centre of the complex, moved near to the 'Greyhound' entrance.
The facility was purchased by The Mall Company
and the name changed from The Mall Galleries to The Mall Bristol.
In January 2011, it was sold to HSBC European Active Real Estate Trust for £50.1 million,
and the name was restored to The Galleries.
Shopping mall
A shopping mall, shopping centre, shopping arcade, shopping precinct or simply mall is one or more buildings forming a complex of shops representing merchandisers, with interconnecting walkways enabling visitors to easily walk from unit to unit, along with a parking area — a modern, indoor version...
situated in the Broadmead
Broadmead
Broadmead is a street in the central area of Bristol, England, which has given its name to the principal shopping district of the city.- History :The name of the street was first recorded in 1383 as Brodemede...
shopping centre in Bristol city centre
Bristol city centre
Bristol city centre is the commercial, cultural and business centre of Bristol, England. It is the area south of the central ring road and north of the Floating Harbour, bounded north by St Pauls and Easton, east by Temple Meads and Redcliffe, and west by Clifton and Canon's Marsh...
, England. Functioning as one of the city's retail malls, it is a three-storey building, opened in 1991, which spans over Fairfax Street, where buildings used to include a large Woolworths and Millets, across to the former site of Fairfax House (built in 1962) where the Galleries car park now stands.
History
The foundations of the Galleries were laid on 6 July 1989 and also a time capsule was put under the main entrance floor with items from a local school. During construction, most of the buildings on the Broadmead side of the Galleries were kept, with the exception of the Woolworths building. The new building replacing old buildings on the Union Street side, filling in the gaps in between old Broadmead buildings and the Galleries car park, the former site of Fairfax House.The mall was opened on 15 October 1991 by Lord Mayor of Bristol, Peter Abaraham. It was designed by Leslie Jones.
Unlike with many schemes of its type, the size of Bristol's Broadmead
Broadmead
Broadmead is a street in the central area of Bristol, England, which has given its name to the principal shopping district of the city.- History :The name of the street was first recorded in 1383 as Brodemede...
Centre meant that many major stores simply stayed in existing locations, including Next, Debenhams, House Of Fraser, John Lewis and Marks & Spencers. There was therefore no major 'anchor' store; and within ten years the move of John Lewis to the out-of-town The Mall at Cribbs Causeway (unrelated to the Galleries most recent owner) brought a further reduction in overall visitors to the Broadmead area.
Nearly twenty years later, with the demolition of much of the 1950s and 1960s areas of Broadmead, another large 'semi covered' shopping centre, Cabot Circus
Cabot Circus
Cabot Circus is a shopping centre in Bristol, England. It is adjacent to Broadmead, a shopping district in Bristol city centre. The Cabot Circus development area contains shops, offices, a cinema, hotel and 250 apartments. It covers a total of floor space, of which is retail outlets and leisure...
, was built, this time attracting some large stores who had been displaced by the development, including the 2nd relocation of House Of Fraser in a few years.
In 2007 and 2008 the complex underwent a minor facelift, with the inside being re-painted, and the relocation of the lifts, from the centre of the complex, moved near to the 'Greyhound' entrance.
The facility was purchased by The Mall Company
The Mall Company
The Mall Fund owns and operates a number of shopping centres in England and uses the trading name "The Mall Company" The shopping centres are usually branded as "The Mall"....
and the name changed from The Mall Galleries to The Mall Bristol.
In January 2011, it was sold to HSBC European Active Real Estate Trust for £50.1 million,
and the name was restored to The Galleries.
Food Street
Situated on the third floor, Food Street has four units: Cafe Roma, Subway, Butlers Cafe, Burger King and Fat Jackets. There is a children's area. It includes a mother and baby room, bottle warmers, toddlers' toilets and changing mats.Shops
The Galleries has a wide selection of unique independent stores but also a range of larger high street brands including:- ArgosArgosArgos is a city and a former municipality in Argolis, Peloponnese, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Argos-Mykines, of which it is a municipal unit. It is 11 kilometres from Nafplion, which was its historic harbour...
- BootsBoots UKBoots UK Limited , is a leading pharmacy chain in the United Kingdom, with outlets in most high streets throughout the country...
- Family Bargains
- 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....
- Head (formerly Virgin Megastores 1991 - 2007, Zavvi 2007-2008)
- Laura AshleyLaura AshleyLaura Ashley was a Welsh fashion designer and businesswoman. She became a household name on the strength of her work as a designer and manufacturer of a range of colourful fabrics for clothes and home furnishings....
- O2O2 (United Kingdom)Telefónica UK Limited is a telecommunications, internet and financial services provider in the United Kingdom owned by Telefónica, forming part of its Telefónica Europe division...
- Orange
- T.K. MaxxT.K. MaxxT.K. Maxx is a retailer with stores throughout the United Kingdom, Ireland, Germany and Poland. The company is part of the TJX Companies which also owns other 'off-price' retail chains such as T.J. Maxx and Marshalls in the United States and Winners in Canada...
- ThorntonsThorntonsThorntons is a UK chocolate company established by Joseph William Thornton in 1911. Thorntons today is a £180 million turnover company with nearly 400 shops and cafes and around 200 franchises together with internet, mail order and commercial services...
- Waterstones
- WH Smiths