Business

Next confirms significant investment with store relocation at The Quays

Pictured outside Next’s new store in Newry is CBRE's Colin Mathewson with Cathal Austin and Katie Mulligan of The Quays
Pictured outside Next’s new store in Newry is CBRE's Colin Mathewson with Cathal Austin and Katie Mulligan of The Quays Pictured outside Next’s new store in Newry is CBRE's Colin Mathewson with Cathal Austin and Katie Mulligan of The Quays

RETAILER Next has confirmed that it is relocating to larger premises at The Quays in Newry, more than doubling its store size to almost 27,000 sq ft.

It will occupy a two-storey unit in the new phase five development directly adjacent to Marks & Spencer and PureGym, who both opened at the scheme a year ago.

The new store is scheduled to open in May, until when Next will continue to trade from its existing premises.

Colin Mathewson, senior director at letting agents CBRE, said: “The relocation of Next to this much larger store is a major boost for The Quays and further cements its dominant position within the city. It is a fantastic achievement in the current retail environment.

“Indeed we soon hope to be in a position to announce a new occupier at the current Next unit, which will be another positive move for the scheme.”

He added: “A number of smaller units remain available within the phase five development.”

Quays centre manager Cathal Austin added: “Since the opening of phase five, in particular Marks & Spencer, we've seen a substantial increase in footfall, and the addition of the new format Next store will no doubt add significantly to that again.

"The scheme has an unrivalled retail offering which includes a cinema, gym, restaurants and extensive car parking, and occupies a strategic border location between Belfast and Dublin.”

The Quays, which opened 19 years ago, is home to Debenhams, M&S, Sainsbury’s and a range of other leading retailers, as well as a multiplex cinema, PureGym and high-quality office accommodation. It has more than 1,000 customer car park spaces.