The Queensgate shopping centre was opened by Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands on 9 March 1982. It has the capacity for over 90 stores and parking for 2,300 cars. At the time of opening the 'big name' shops were John Lewis, Boots, British Home Stores, Littlewoods and C & A.
Peterborough’s British Home Stores (BHS) shop in Queensgate closed its doors for the final time on 23 July 2016, it was one of the founding "big name" shops when the centre opened in 1982.
It was one of the first branches of the 88-year-old high street chain to close with the loss of over 500 jobs, all other branches had closed by the end of August 2016. The closure followed the controversial sale of BHS by Sir Phillip Green to Retail Acquisitions owned by Dominic Chappell for £1 in 2015.
Two Commons committees found that Sir Phillip, Mr Chappell and their respective directors were all culpable for mismanaging the chain and failing to protect the company pension scheme.
Reference:
Peterborough Telegraph 18/07/2016
BBC News 28 August 2016
Image:
Evan Wise on Unsplash
Discount fashion retailer Primark opened a store in Queensgate shopping Centre on 29 November 2012, in time for the Christmas rush, taking up over 60 00 square feet of retail space.
Primark has remained very popular and on its reopening after the third COVID-19 lockdown on 12 April 2021 queues to enter the store stretched into St John’s Square.
References.
Peterborough Telegraph
Image:
Jonathan Kemper Unsplash
The Queensgate shopping centre was opened by Queen Beatrix of the Nether…
Peterborough’s British Home Stores (BHS) shop in Queensgate closed its…
Discount fashion retailer Primark opened a store in Queensgate shopping…
