Midsummer Place secures major retail and leisure double deal

Midsummer Place today, Thursday 21 March, announces the signing of Frasers Group’s Sports Direct and Lane7 premium bowling and leisure, as the latest additions to the Milton Keynes shopping centre, both are set to open in 2024 / early 2025.

Sports Direct is a leading retailer of sports and fitness with stores across the UK and internationally. This 50,000 sq ft store will offer the world’s biggest sports and lifestyle brands across footwear, clothing and equipment, and the store will also feature more brands from Frasers Group’s ecosystem including USC, Evans Cycles, and GAME.

Lane7 Ltd, will occupy circa 40,000 sq ft which will see the company’s 18th opening in the UK with sites already in London, Birmingham, Manchester and Liverpool. Both brands will be in the former Next Beauty & Home unit across three floors and join other well-loved brands and retailers such as Zara, Apple, Michael Kors, Boss, Hollister and Victoria’s Secret that make Midsummer Place the ‘fashionable quarter’ and a first choice for customers looking for the latest trends and aspirational shopping. Lane7 will occupy the basement floor.

The double deal was secured by Midsummer Place’s asset management company, Ellandi. Simon Anderson, Asset Management Director at Ellandi, said: “Securing both Frasers Group’s Sports Direct and Lane 7 for Midsummer Place demonstrates both confidence in the market as well as highlighting the opportunity at Midsummer Place. These brands will complement the recent re-development of The Boulevard F&B quarter. We are transforming the centre, and in addition to the physical changes we are curating a very attractive tenant mix. This brings us one step closer to realising our vision to create a high-end, quality destination.”

Simon Martin, Centre Manager at Midsummer Place said: “This is an exciting time for Midsummer Place and Central Milton Keynes as we welcome new retail and leisure experiences. The recent completion of The Boulevard has already transformed the look of the centre and there is much more to reveal in the coming months.”

The strategic collaboration marks a significant milestone for Midsummer Place, reinforcing its commitment to creating a destination that is innovative with a diverse offer in the heart of Milton Keynes city centre. These major signings follow the recently completed development of the popular Boulevard which has seen eight independent luxury cabins open to create a food court that provides cuisines from around the world coupled with recognised F&B occupiers Leon, Starbucks and Pret A Manger.

A Frasers Group spokesperson commented: “We are pleased to be opening a new, elevated retail destination in Milton Keynes’ Midsummer Place. The Sports Direct store will give customers access to the world’s best sports and lifestyle brands, as well as bring other brands from the Group’s ecosystem, including USC, Evans Cycles and GAME, to the location.”

Gavin Hughes, Managing Director at Lane7 added, “This will be our biggest Lane7 to date and we can’t wait to come to Midsummer Place, bringing our unique brand of entertainment and hospitality to Milton Keynes.”

Midsummer Place opened in 2000 and currently boasts retailers, BOSS, Zara, Michael Kors, Tommy Hilfiger, Victoria’s Secret, Hollister, Superdry, New Look, Tesla, LEGO®, Apple, among others.

Further information, including timings, are expected to be announced in the coming months.