ResortsWorld shifts emphasis after swathe of shop closures

ALMOST two-thirds of the 46 shops which were at the NEC Resorts World complex in 2016 are no longer there.

The £150 million leisure destination opened in October 2015, a month after Grand Central in Birmingham city centre.

But six years on there is a wind of change blowing through the shopping malls at the complex - but the owners are not blaming the pandemic for their own change in policy.

Owner Genting UK said it had been taking a “strategic view” to increase its leisure offering – a new £2.4 million Hollywood Bowl centre will replace one of the shopping malls with the loss of 14 retail units.

Five of those retailers have moved across to the other mall which still has some vacancies.

Since 2017, Levi’s, WHSmith, Beauty Outlet and Sony have joined the retail offering at Resorts World – four retailers including Thorntons chocolates have been lost due to group administrations of their own making.

A Resorts World spokesperson said: “The nature of outlet malls is that leases are shorter than those at traditional high street or shopping centre locations, typically between six months to five years.

“Therefore, turnover of outlets is always much higher than the more traditional shopping locations. That is reflected throughout the outlet marketplace.

“Whilst there are now fewer retail brands at Resorts World than when it opened, we are pleased that we have retained the best brands to offer a reduced but higher quality retail offering.

“The changing nature of retail has provided Resorts World with the opportunity to look at new and exciting ways to utilise some of our space. Retail will remain an important part of the overall offer at Resorts World.”