Plymouth’s Drake Circus Shopping Centre marked 15 years of trading in the autumn of 2021 - having changed the face of retail in the far South West’s biggest city.
The 39,484sq ft complex opened in October 2006 and has provided a home for some of the leading names in high street retail and continues to attract leading companies.
But it has also helped the Plymouth community too. So, with the festive season, and 2021, still with us, it’s time to look back on 15 memorable moments from across the years to mark the anniversary and celebrate the good work the British Land-owned complex has done.
Greg Lumley, centre director at Drake Circus, said: “There’s no doubt that we have changed since our opening in 2006. We spread our wings with our landmark leisure development – The Barcode – in 2019, but giving our visitors the very best shopping and leisure experience remains at the heart of everything we do.
“I’m incredibly proud of lots of things, particularly the work we’ve done, and continue to do, to support our community and the amazing work of organisations and individuals across the region. And as we look back on some of the most memorable moments from the past 15 years, we’re very much looking forward to the next 15 years and the exciting things they will bring.”
Here are the fabulous 15 landmark events that have marked a decade and a half at Drake Circus:
1 Drake Circus Shopping Centre opened its doors on October 5, 2006, bringing 46 new stores, restaurants and service providers to Plymouth.
2 Since 2009 Drake Circus has been the starting point for the Santa Fun Run. Each year members of the community dress up in Santa costumes to run the route through the city which takes them through the centre, using the 24-hour walkway.
3 In 2011, the centre launched its programme of support for charities and has since raised more than £60,000 working with more than 100 community partners.
4. One of Drake Circus’ longest standing partnerships is with the National Literacy Trust on the Young Readers Programme. The successful initiative has played a vital role in encouraging thousands of children across Plymouth to develop a love of reading and helped their literacy skills.
5 Since April 2016, 100% of the waste managed for Drake Circus customers has been diverted from landfill, with more than 500 tonnes recycled and the remainder sent for incineration to generate energy.
6 In 2016, Drake Circus mall was involved in Plymouth’s first Fashion in the City, an event where students and graduates from Plymouth College of Art helped to put the South West on the map for looking chic. Following a series of events across the city, Drake Circus Shopping Centre hosted a weekend of catwalk shows attracting 25,000 visitors and 45,000 social media interactions.
7 2017 marked the start of Drake Circus mall’s work with the city’s dementia-friendly co-ordinator to make it a dementia-friendly centre. This saw centre colleagues and retailers take part in specialist training, and on March 22, 2017, Drake Circus hosted a Dementia Tea Dance in partnership with Plymouth Dance. As dancing helps people with dementia not only stay fit but engage with the world around them, volunteers and dementia trained dance professionals helped to bring families together during this special session.
8 In 2017 Drake Circus also introduced a sensory shopping hour, which continues to take place on the first Saturday of every month. During the hour, businesses and shops in Drake Circus mall are asked to follow National Autistic Society (NAS) Autism Hour guidelines and combine them with dementia-friendly shopping.
9 Since April 2018, 100% of the electricity that Drake Circus Shopping Centre buys for its customers and common areas has come from renewable sources.
10 In 2019, Drake Circus’ stairs turned rainbow-coloured for the first time in support of Pride. The centre also hosted events throughout the week of Pride, including arts and craft workshops run by Plymouth College of Art and local artists.
11. 2019 saw the opening of The Barcode, creating 250 jobs and bringing adventure golf, and several restaurants including Zizzi, Five Guys, Nando’s and Cosy Club to the region.
12 On October 22, 2019, Cineworld opened at The Barcode, featuring 14 screens including the South West’s first 4DX and IMAX screens, the latter being the third biggest in the UK.
13 Five electric vehicle charging points were installed at The Barcode for the first time in 2019 as part of the work to support a more sustainable future.
14 In 2020, the Giving Box was installed at the centre, designed to help the community give back to some of the amazing people and charities that continue to support them. The current charities that the Giving Box is raising funds for include Andy’s Man Club, Macmillan, Plymouth Domestic Abuse Services and Woodside Animal Welfare Sanctuary.
15 In October 2021 Drake Circus celebrated its 15th birthday. Since its opening, the centre has welcomed more than 253 million visitors and is now home to 73 brands, including 58 shops, 15 cafes and restaurants, an adventure golf and cinema.
