Salford developments drive Lowry Outlet Mall restaurant sales up

26-Apr-2012 - Last updated on 27-Apr-2012 at 16:08 GMT

The Plaza restaurants at the Lowry Outlet Mall have seen sales jump by more than 20 per cent year on year driven in part by Salford development like MediaCityUK

The Plaza restaurants at Salford's Lowry Outlet Mall have seen sales rise by more than 20 per cent driven in part by the increased footfall in the centre from nearby developments including the BBC move to MediaCityUK.

The shopping centre, located in Salford Quays near Manchester, announced that sales at its Plaza restaurants are up by 21.4 per cent year on year.

Pizza Express, Bella Italia and Café Rouge are among the six restaurants in the Plaza section of the shopping centre which also features a 400-cover food court.

Lowry Outlet Mall also revealed increased Easter trading figures in its 80-plus stores in the centre with footfall also up by 36 per cent.

MediaCityUK

The restaurants in the centre appear to have benefited from the increased traffic as a result of a number of nearby developments in Salford including the highly-publicised move by the BBC to MediaCityUK which the centre says has significantly boosted weekday footfall.

The company Satellite Information Services (SIS) and Salford University have also moved in to MediaCityUK while the neighbouring Lowry Theatre has also played a part in the boost for restaurants.

Robert Hallworth, centre manager said the success of the F&B offer at the centre was down to the choice available. "Our positioning as the dining capital of the Quays has been established over a number of years, and we are also heavily marketing newcomers to the area with our offering. This has in turn greatly been of benefit to our restaurant sector, which has a great choice of food types, who have seen an increase in trade during the weekdays as well as the busy weekends."

Harvester

Restaurants Lime and Pond Quay complete the line-up in the Plaza alongside the newest restaurant in the centre - Harvester. Martin Grady, the Harvester manager said the company was very happy with the performance figures.

"Since opening we have performed way above expectation and targets. The Lowry Outlet Mall is at the very heart of the Quays community, and because it attracts everything from Theatre goers to workers and then shoppers, we very rarely have a quiet day," he said.

Earlier this year BigHospitality reported shopping centres were becoming the location of choice for emerging restaurant concepts looking to increase the presence of their brands.

Last week planning permission was granted for a 14-storey hotel development in Salford.