Record student footfall at The Merrion Centre

Merrion experiences surge in student visitors

For the second year in a row, The Merrion Centre has seen an exceptional surge in student footfall, with more than 415,000 visitors flocking through its doors during the start of the new term.

This represents a growth of more than 36% year-on-year (YOY), an achievement the Centre attributes to its ever-expanding range of retail and leisure venues, as well as the rapidly evolving local environment. The area now boasts more than 9,000 apartments, with an additional 4,000 either on-site or under development, further enhancing the Centre’s appeal.

A significant driver of this growth is the diverse mix of everyday essential stores and new international brands now available at the Merrion Centre. From familiar, much-needed shops to exciting global names, the Centre offers a dynamic shopping experience for students and residents alike.

To support this influx of customer, the Centre recently held a bespoke ‘Shop, Show & Win’ initiative to welcome its new student neighbours and enhance their shopping experience. This saw shoppers rewarded for shopping at Merrion with the chance to win prizes ranging from discount vouchers to free meals and gift cards.

In addition to its digital Student Shopping and Discount Guide, the Merrion Centre has embraced new ways to engage with its diverse customer base. This includes the introduction of the Asian social media platform Xiaohongshu (Little Red Book), which is being used to connect with new residents in Leeds and introduce them to the Centre’s authentic eateries and international brands, including the likes of My Thai, Meet Fresh, Eatime and Pho 37.

The Merrion Centre is now attracting students from across the city’s universities and colleges including University of Leeds (37.6%); Leeds Beckett (26.5%); Leeds Art Gallery (8.8%); Notre Dame Sixth Form College (6.9%) and Leeds City College (6.5%) with other tenants attracting the ‘student pound’ including Tenpin Bowling Alley, K-Kube Karaoke and sustainable clothing brand Blue Rinse.

James Broughton, Head of Marketing Communications for Town Centre Securities PLC, owners of the Merrion Centre said:

“We are continually evolving our strategy to welcome new and returning students back to the city and it’s fantastic to see such positive numbers returning once again to the Merrion Centre.

“As we celebrate our 60th year of being part of the great city of Leeds, we’re thrilled to see our tenants actively participate in our campaigns, ensuring that visitors continue to shop, eat, drink and be Merrion throughout the year.”