Big changes at South West shopping centre

A popular discount outlet shopping centre is set to welcome a host of new additions, including fresh dining options and retail outlets. Clarks Village in Street, Somerset, home to more than 90 designer and high street brands, as well as a diverse array of food and drink establishments, is gearing up for significant changes.

2023 marked the 30th anniversary of Clarks Village, which has been a pioneer in UK shopping since it introduced the outlet concept to British consumers in 1993, inspiring a trend of similar developments nationwide. Situated fewer than 15 miles from the M5, the destination continues to attract shoppers from far and wide.

Chris Davis, the Centre Director of Clarks Village, expressed his excitement about the upcoming openings: “After months of speculation, we can officially confirm Wagamama is coming to Clarks Village along with four other fantastic new openings. There’s already been a buzz of excitement from guests and we can’t wait to showcase these brands as they open their doors in the coming weeks alongside our established favourites.”

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He added: “While the British weather may be interchangeable, with five new brands and more on the way, we’re in for a very hot summer at Clarks Village.”

The list of five major updates to Clarks Village includes the arrival of Slim Chickens, reports Somerset Live.

Slim Chickens, a popular chicken chain, is gearing up to open its first restaurant in Somerset, promising free chicken for the first 30 customers. The former Gourmet Burger Kitchen branch in Clarks Village’s Restaurant Terrace is currently being transformed into the new Slim Chickens outlet.

The American-style eatery specialises in fresh, buttermilk tenders, Honey barbecue sandwiches and Buffalo wings cooked to order. It also offers a selection of 15 handmade dipping sauces, wraps, salads, sides, vegetarian plant-based options and milkshakes.

Set to open its doors at midday on Friday, June 21, Slim Chickens will be giving away three free chicken tenders to the first 30 people in line. Golden tickets will also be distributed in-store for a chance to win additional prizes.

The restaurant layout will cater to various dining needs, featuring family seating, intimate tables, and booths. It will be suitable for quick lunches, takeaway meals, and leisurely family dinners.

This will mark the first Slim Chickens restaurant in Somerset, joining other branches in Bournemouth, Exeter and Swindon.

The Street restaurant is currently hiring for both full-time and part-time positions, including front of house, kitchen team member, kitchen supervisor, kitchen manager and assistant manager.

In other news, a new Wagamama at Clarks Village is scheduled to open later this summer. The pan-Asian restaurant chain will merge units 29 and 30, previously occupied by Samsonite and Jaeger, to form the new restaurant.

Construction is progressing rapidly with an opening date set for 22 July. The spacious eatery will accommodate 172 diners, including a 40-seat outdoor area.

The upcoming Clarks Village Wagamama will dish out beloved classics such as the signature chicken katsu, hearty ramens, and a variety of iconic sides from their menu, which boasts that 50% of its offerings are plant-based. Additionally, the restaurant will introduce Wagamama’s fresh summer menu items like the saku saku soba, available with either crispy shredded duck or crispy pulled shiitake mushrooms.

Patrons can look forward to a selection of novel beverages, ranging from sangrias to shiso mojitos, and even a ‘pad thai sour’ cocktail a creative concoction inspired by the traditional flavours of pad Thai. Operating every day of the week, this new branch will not only be Wagamama’s 167th outlet in the UK but will also generate 60 new job opportunities.

Sita Wood, Wagamama’s Head of Regional Marketing, said: “We are so excited to open the doors to our brand-new restaurant in Clarks Village. Our benches will soon be welcoming the local community and visitors of the outlet shopping destination, and we can’t wait to serve up some of our newest dishes and fresh favourites! “.

She added: “Our fantastic new team have been working hard to ensure we’ll bring our much-loved Wagamama experience to our guests and they’re so excited to land in their beautiful new restaurant once work is complete.”

Murmur, the luxury homeware brand, has just unveiled a new pop-up store in Clarks Village’s Homeware Pavilion. The store presents a selection of nature-inspired homeware, featuring soft natural tones and a range that spans from bedding and soft furnishings to gifting and home fragrance.

Rituals, the beauty and wellbeing brand, celebrated the opening of its latest store in Clarks Village on Thursday, May 23. A spokesperson for the brand commented: “The brand is dedicated to sustainable and personal wellbeing in the luxury beauty industry and aims to transform everyday routines into more meaningful moments”.

Currently, Rituals operates two stores in Bristol, located at Cabot Circus and Cribbs Causeway, with additional South West locations in Exeter, Plymouth, Swindon, and Winchester.

The brand made its first venture outside of London in 2017, setting up shop in Birmingham’s Grand Central shopping centre. Last year, Rituals announced an ambitious expansion plan, revealing they would be launching 25 new stores the following year as part of their growth strategy across the UK and Ireland.

Annemarie Forsyth, Managing Director of Rituals Cosmetics (UK and Ireland), expressed excitement about the new opening: “We’re thrilled to be opening a brand-new store in Clarks Village, where we’ll be joining over 90 high street and designer retailers.

“Customers can explore our collections and fully immerse themselves into our brand and its offerings as soon as they step into our store. It’s a place to discover our collections, including a range of gift sets and uplifting wellbeing treats for bath, body, and home, all at fantastic outlet prices. We’re looking forward to welcoming customers to our new store and to providing an unforgettable shopping experience.”

Whilst not a new entry to Clarks Village, Lindt has relocated to a larger premise. Now nestled next to Haribo in the Pear Court mall, the chocolate boutique has expanded its services to include an ice cream and hot drink parlour, offering its new creamy creation, Lindt Crema Gelta.

The store also includes a personalised ribbon centre alongside its popular Lindt pick ‘n’ mix range.