Big Brothers Chanelle opens the new HMV store

Bouverie Place Shopping Center is now open for business !!

26th November - At 10am on the button, the metal security shutters lifted for the first time to the public and approx 500 people swarmed in from both entrances. With the £30million shopping arcade full of new customers and music playing the atmosphere was exciting and a welcome boost for Folkestone's Town Center.

The new 200,000 sq ft shopping center, a project between Bridehall Developments and Warner Estate has been a long time coming. Originally earmarked for the seafront it has doubled the retail space of Folkestone Town Center.

Click on the image below to see the opening of Bouverie Place Gallery

Click on the image below to see building of the Bouverie Place Gallery

It now includes Asda as the anchor store for the project, a 21,000 sq ft British Home stores, a 10,000 sq ft New Look, a 17,000 sq ft Next and many more shops including The Body Shop, Sports World, Poundland, 3 Mobile, Peacocks and George by Asda. Starbucks, HMV and Specsavers are located around the entrance throught from the town center. There are still some vacant units left so the rumours of the fashion retailers Red or Dead and Miss Selfridge may still be true.

The Bouverie Place shopping centre is also set to include an extra 600 car parking spaces in additon to the current 600 car parking spaces available in the Middleburg Square car park opposite. The developers are also working closely with Shepway District council to improve the pedestrian links between Bouverie Place, Sandgate Road and Guildhall Street.

Bouverie Place shopping centre is expected to create an additonal 500 jobs in the retail sector, a much needed boost for Folkestone. With the interest from some large retailers it will also help to decrease the leakage of £250 million spent elsewhere in other towns such as Canterbury and Ashford.