Bridgewater, Banbridge

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Bridgewater, Banbridge
Shopping outlet and retail park
Built2004; 21 years ago (2004)

Bridgewater (formerly known as The Outlet Park) is a major retail and business development in County Down, Northern Ireland, near Banbridge. It consists of a shopping outlet, retail park, drive-thru's and petrol stations.

The Boulevard
Map
LocationBanbridge, County Down, Northern Ireland
Opening date2007; 18 years ago (2007)
Previous namesThe Outlet (2007–2018)
OwnerTristan Capital Partners
Lotus Property
Stores and services77
Anchor tenants2
Floors1
Websitehttps://the-boulevard.co.uk

History

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The Boulevard

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The Boulevard opened in 2007 as The Outlet. the shopping outlet is a home to discount outlets for big-name fashion retailers. The site was empty and struggled with footfall, with only a third of its units filled.[1]

In 2016, The Outlet was acquired by Tristan Capital Partners and Lotus Property for more than £40m from its previous owner Ulster Bank, who acquired it from original owners GML Estates and Land Securities in 2011.[2][3][4][5] Tristan and Lotus invested in the struggling site to become one of the biggest leisure and shopping destinations in Northern Ireland. The investment included opening a 8 screen Omniplex cinema, a McDonald's drive-thru restaurant and an implementation of a glass roof. The Outlet was rebranded to The Boulevard in 2018.[1][6]

The Boulevard (then called The Outlet) in December 2009

In 2024, another investment was announced, with a Hollywood Bowl opening (the 2nd one in Northern Ireland) and an expansion of the area close to the Omniplex cinema, which will be redeveloped into a food and entertainment quarter. The development is expected to be finished by early 2026.[7][8][9]

Banbridge Retail Park

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In 2014, the Bridgewater (then called The Outlet Park) development began to expand, with a new Tesco store opening, this site would later become Banbridge Retail Park when Home Bargains opened in 2016.[10][11]

In 2020, a major expansion of the retail park was announced with 3 phases, The Range, Marks & Spencer and EZ Living Interiors were announced to be tenants of phase 1 of the expansion. M&S and The Range opened in 2022 while EZ Living opened in 2023.[12][13][14]

In 2024, another expansion was announced which would serve as phase 2 and 3 respectively; 5 retail units, a garden centre and 3 restaurants were to be added to the retail park.[15]

In 2025, one of the units and the garden centre were announced to be leased to retailer B&M, who wanted to expand their unit and the garden centre which would take up some of the parking from a Game of Thrones experience nearby, the 3 restaurants were announced to be drive-thru's.[16]

The Gateway

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The Bridgewater development expanded further in 2019 with the opening of a KFC restaurant behind The Boulevard, this area would be known as The Gateway. Like The Boulevard, the area is owned by Tristan Capital Partners and Lotus Property.[17][18]

The area quickly expanded from 2023 to 2025, with a Go motorway service and coffee drive-thru, a Starbucks drive-thru and an electric car charging station powered by Fastned.[19][20]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Lotus spending £4m to give Outlet a make-over - and a roof". The Irish News. 2017-01-17. Retrieved 2024-07-31.
  2. ^ "Junction One and the Outlet retail parks to be sold for £40m". BelfastTelegraph.co.uk. 2016-01-12. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2024-10-26.
  3. ^ "Ulster Bank takes over Banbridge Outlet store". BBC News. 2011-06-13. Retrieved 2024-07-31.
  4. ^ "Junction One and The Outlet secure buyers". BBC News. 2016-04-06. Retrieved 2025-08-30.
  5. ^ "Junction One and the Outlet retail parks to be sold for £40m". BelfastTelegraph.co.uk. 2016-01-12. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2025-02-15.
  6. ^ "The Outlet in Banbridge set for rebrand as The Boulevard". BelfastTelegraph.co.uk. 2018-02-27. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2024-07-31.
  7. ^ McLaughlin, Sophie (2024-07-31). "Hollywood Bowl to open in NI shopping outlet as part of £9m redevelopment". Belfast Live. Retrieved 2024-07-31.
  8. ^ McKenna, Micheal (2025-01-25). "Famous Hollywood Bowl plans exciting 10-pin bowling leisure and entertainment complex in Banbridge". Armagh I. Retrieved 2025-02-01.
  9. ^ "Bowling chain to open second location in NI retail centre as part of £9m plan". BelfastTelegraph.co.uk. 2025-06-05. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2025-06-05.
  10. ^ "New Banbridge Tesco Extra store opens at the Outlet". NorthernIrelandWorld. 20 October 2014.
  11. ^ "50 new jobs as Home Bargains opens its largest Northern Ireland store in Banbridge". NorthernIrelandWorld. 28 July 2016.
  12. ^ McKenna, Micheal (2020-08-25). "The Range plan to open massive 50,000 sq ft store could create up to 80 new jobs for borough". Armagh I. Retrieved 2024-07-31.
  13. ^ McKenna, Micheal (2021-04-30). "Yes for M&S..New £6m Food Hall and 'retail warehouse' in Banbridge up for approval". Armagh I. Retrieved 2024-07-31.
  14. ^ McKenna, Micheal (2022-08-19). "Huge jobs boost for Banbridge with plans for new drive-thru and popular home interiors store". Armagh I. Retrieved 2024-07-31.
  15. ^ Cartmill, Claire (25 July 2024). "The plans are expected to almost double the size of the present site adding over 75,000 sq ft to the retail park". Belfast News Letter.
  16. ^ McKenna, Micheal (2025-08-29). "New B&M Bargains store and garden centre planned for Banbridge with major jobs boost on cards". Armagh I. Retrieved 2025-08-29.
  17. ^ "The Gateway, Banbridge, BT32 4LF | LoopNet".
  18. ^ McKenna, Micheal (2020-06-06). "New £4m service station development along A1 will bring 25 new jobs to the borough". Armagh I. Retrieved 2025-02-15.
  19. ^ "'The site is located approximately 115m east of the Boulevard shopping centre'". Belfast News Letter. 2024-06-11. Retrieved 2025-02-15.
  20. ^ McKenna, Micheal (2023-06-19). "World-famous Starbucks coffee house to open new drive-thru at Banbridge". Armagh I. Retrieved 2025-02-15.
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54°19′51.1″N 6°16′36″W / 54.330861°N 6.27667°W / 54.330861; -6.27667