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Retail expansion gives Northumberland shopping centre sharp rise in footfall figures

Northumberland’s largest shopping centre saw a sharp rise in its festive footfall figures as shoppers took advantage of new click and collect services, pre-Christmas discounts and a wider selection of retailers.

Manor Walks Shopping & Leisure in Cramlington saw its footfall figures during the period between Monday 22 December and Friday 26 December 2014 increase by 6.5% on the same week in 2013.

The increase has been attributed by Manor Walks in part to the number of retailers now offering a click and collect service at the centre, including M&S Simply Food, Argos, New Look and Dorothy Perkins.

Boxing Day figures were also up by over 5% on the previous year, beating national figures from Ipsos Retail Performance, which reported footfall levels were nationally down 7.1% on 2013. Prior to this, a busy Black Friday also saw the centre’s footfall increase on the same day in 2013.

Throughout the course of 2014, Manor Walks welcomed a host of new retailers, including M&S Simply Food, chocolatier Curiously Wicked and eatery Hungry Horse, all of which have proven popular amongst shoppers over the Christmas period.

Manor Walks has also credited the surge in its footfall figures with its enhanced leisure and retail offering that has been strongly supported by a calendar of festive events, which started with the annual Christmas Light Switch On.

The event, hosted by Radio Northumberland in partnership with Manor Walks, Cramlington Town Council and Active Northumberland, attracted a flock of visitors to the centre, who welcomed the Frozen Disney princesses with Olaf the snowman and film favourites Sid and Scrat from Ice Age.

Manor Walks’ general manager, Bruno Coppola said: “Christmas 2014 once again highlighted the fantastic community spirit that we have here in Cramlington. At Manor Walks, we like to reward our visitors and the response we have had to the seasonal entertainment and activities we organised has, as ever, been outstanding and was certainly reflected with the surge in our year-on-year footfall figures.

“This December, we were proud to offer visitors an enhanced shopping experience including wider choice following the arrival of a number of new brands in 2014 and greater convenience with many of our retailers now offering click and collect services.

“After a fantastic 2014, we hope that our loyal customers continue to travel from across the region to shop, relax and dine with us, as well as make the most of our retail and leisure facilities including our multiplex Vue Cinema.”

With over 100 retailers including Northumberland’s only multiplex cinema and a great range of family restaurants as well as high street favourites and independent stores, Manor Walks Shopping and Leisure in Cramlington offers a huge amount of choice.

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