UPDATE: The Ashford Designer Outlet has officially reached 100% occupancy for the first time since its £90 million expansion six years ago, just in time for the bustling holiday season. This milestone follows the recent openings of Pepe Jeans and Weird Fish, filling previously vacant units and enhancing the shopping experience for visitors.
The rapidly growing outlet is now hosting an expanded Christmas market, featuring 13 stalls—up from 9 last year—that will be open until January 1. This expansion adds to the festive atmosphere as shoppers flock to the center during this crucial retail period.
Manager Peter Heritage, aged 42, expressed enthusiasm about the timing of the new store openings. “Our three busiest days of the year are usually Black Friday, the Saturday afterwards, and Boxing Day, so to be fully occupied is great,” he stated. Heritage noted that Weird Fish has been a particularly popular addition, exceeding expectations with its offerings.
Earlier in the week, toy brand Playmobil launched its first standalone store in the UK at the outlet, while Cadbury and Cornish Bakery also made recent returns to the center, enhancing the shopping variety. The new arrivals come amid a significant shift in the outlet’s dynamics, as it struggled with vacancies following the 2019 expansion, which added 50 new units to the complex.
Heritage reflected on the challenges faced during the initial launch of the extension, stating, “It would have been nice to have been fully occupied a year or two earlier. But the dynamic has changed over the years.” He emphasized that the foundation of the outlet’s current success lies in the strategic expansion that has transformed it into more than just a shopping destination.
In addition to the exciting store openings and the Christmas market, plans for a 33-meter high Ferris wheel in the center’s main car park are under consideration by the Ashford Borough Council. However, this proposal has raised privacy concerns, with 21 objections logged on the council’s planning portal, while only 8 supporters have come forward.
As the holiday shopping season kicks into high gear, the atmosphere at the Ashford Designer Outlet is electric, making it a key destination for shoppers. With full occupancy and an expanded festive market, the outlet is poised for a successful end to the year.
Stay tuned for further updates as this story develops.
