Outlet extension officially opens as bosses cut ribbon

Shopping centre says footfall has gone up

The multi-million pound expansion of Ashford Designer Outlet has officially opened.

Speeches given by bosses including manager Peter Corr marked the opening last Thursday before chiefs cut the ribbon to the multi-million pound extension.

The £90 million project has added dozens of new shops, an enlarged food piazza and an interactive children’s playground to the shopping centre.

Big brands including Five Guys, YO! Sushi, Dr. Martens, UGG and Armani have opened - with more announcements expected between now and the new year.

Centre bosses report that footfall is up 24%from last year.

Mr Corr - who has been overseeing the centre’s expansion - led guests around the centre during guided morning tours.

Three new luxury designer brands - including Coach, Sandro and Maje - launched on the opening day.

The construction of the 100,000 sq ft extension was set to be celebrated by a firework display and festive light switch-on event - but the event was cancelled days before the opening after animal safety concerns were raised.

Instead, live music and entertainment ran throughout the day and into the evening, with performances from roaming bands to LED drummers.

Festive-inspired activities, including an elf workshop and Santa’s post office, occupied younger guests.

The Garden of Light installation opened - allowing shoppers to walk through the four seasons free-of-charge.

It will stay open for six months. Centre bosses revealed that global confectionary giant Haribo will be opening next Thursday.

Work is underway to transform a 1,360 sq ft store - which is positioned in an old section of the centre next to Lindt - ahead of the opening, which is set to feature an appearance from a “special guest”.

The first 100 shoppers through the doors of the new store will also be in with the chance of receiving an exclusive goody bag.

The new sweet shop will be the first to open in the county, and the fifth in the country, as stores have opened up in Yorkshire, Cheshire, London and Somerset in the past two years.

It was also revealed that Jasmin Vardimon dance company will be filling a unit at the Outlet temporarily in January.

Despite the expanded outlet officially opening on Thursday, 21 retail units are yet to be filled.

Bedeck, Tempur, Carhartt WIP, Kate Spade, Cosmetic Company, Calendar Club and Tripp are set to move into the new extension between now and early next year - while Puma and Haribo will trade from older units.

Jasmin Vardimon dance company is expected to temporarily move into the centre next year.

Despite this, plans for the 13 remaining empty units in the new extension have not been revealed.

The vacant shops are currently being used to promote new brands and advertise clothing.

A spokeswoman for the outlet said: “We remain focused on developing a premium brand mix to complement the brands already open and trading.

“With the new phase now fully operational, we expect to welcome more exciting new brands going forward.

“The expansion is more than 70% leased with more arriving between now and the start of 2020.”

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Empty units feature in the Designer Outlet extension, which was officially opened last Thursday

The extension, featuring a living wall, cost £90m