Liverpool ONE, managed by Grosvenor, has kicked off 2024 on a high note, already surpassing its remarkable achievements from the previous year. The first week of January 2024 witnessed a 10% surge in visitor numbers compared to the same period in 2023, marking the best start to a year in over half a decade for the shopping destination.
This robust beginning comes on the heels of an exceptionally busy Christmas in 2023, where Liverpool ONE saw unprecedented sales and footfall. The festive season alone drew in over 3.9 million visitors, a 1.9% increase from 2022.
Interestingly, Liverpool ONE’s success is in stark contrast to the national trend. Early data indicates a 3.5% decrease in footfall across UK retail hubs, according to ShopperTrak. This places Liverpool ONE significantly ahead of the curve, outperforming the national average by a notable margin.
Notably, year-on-year sales soared by 5.3%, with entertainment, beauty, and menswear sectors witnessing the most significant growth. The entertainment sector, in particular, saw a substantial boost in turnover during Christmas, aided by the introduction of Gravity MAX in the former Debenhams space.
The rise in beauty sales was propelled by the arrival of Space NK, while menswear thrived with the expansion of brands like BOSS. Additionally, food and beverage outlets experienced heightened sales during the festive season.
In 2023, Liverpool ONE welcomed an impressive 25 new brands, occupying a total space of 275,000 sq ft. Notable openings included Gravity MAX and M&S, integral to Grosvenor’s major asset management initiative. This expansion also saw the inauguration of Goldsmiths’ largest showroom and numerous flagship stores from celebrated brands such as Swarovski, BOSS, Hollister, Gilly Hicks, Sweaty Betty, Space NK, Swatch, TAG Heuer, Joe & the Juice, Red Run, and Bean Coffee Roasters. Moreover, 27 brands renewed or regeared leases, accounting for an additional 105,000 sq ft.
Chris Jukes, Grosvenor’s Director of Liverpool ONE, expressed pride in the 2023 achievements, stating: “2023 was a milestone year for Liverpool ONE. Not only did we celebrate our 15 year anniversary and play a role in helping the city to host Eurovision 2023, but from a leasing perspective, we continued to attract retail firsts, international flagship openings, creative pop-ups, and independent and local brands, as evidenced in our results. Liverpool ONE has never been a destination which steps and repeats but we always strive to be big and bold in all that we do. 2024 will be no different as we will continue to innovate, evolve and contribute to the city centre and wider Liverpool City Region.”
