The shopping centre in Brierley Hill, in Dudley borough, has undergone a £125 million transformation in the last few years and is the ninth largest UK mall by spend potential, according to sales particulars.
Merry Hill shopping centre in Brierley Hill
Knight Frank has been appointed to manage the sale on behalf of Merry Hill’s owners – a lender consortium including Wells Fargo and AXA Investment Management, with reports indicating its has a £250 million price tag.
The shopping centre, described as one of the UK’s top 10 super regional destinations, has celebrated record footfall in 2025, with a 5.6 per cent year-on-year increase for the first half of this year, thanks to the opening of a number of new food outlets and the popularity of relatively new entertainment and leisure offerings including Hollywood Bowl and the XF Gym.
The destination is now more than 96 per cent let, the consequence of a comprehensive landlord investment programme, active asset management by Sovereign Centros from CBRE, and an ambitious leasing strategy, Frank Knight said, with footfall in 2025 on course to top 15.5 million for the first time, accompanied by record sales performance. Its newly completed £15 million leisure quarter has driven footfall and boosted leisure and F&B sales; it has also won the Revo Gold award for Best Repurposing and Placemaking project in 2024.
Sales particulars say the centre has stabilised its anchor tenants, introducing more than 300,000 sq ft of new and upgraded space from the likes of leisure concepts Hollywood Bowl and Fun station, as well as attracting national debuts from businesses Harvey Norman and XF Gym, and a completely revamped 100,000 sq ft M&S.
The 92-acre site, which includes a fully let retail park, also boasts future-proofed ESG initiatives, with more than 2,700 solar panels generating 25 per cent of its operational electricity requirement and more than100 EV chargers installed and in-use.
Merry Hill shopping centre
The Merry Hill directors said of the sale: “The last few years have been transformational for Merry Hill, as investment, proactive asset management, and an effective leasing programme have combined to return it to its rightful place as a top 10 UK mall.
“Merry Hill is primed for the next stage of its journey, with several initiatives planned to cement its position in the super regional hierarchy. Consequently, now is the right time for a new owner to take on an asset that is thriving to realise further value.”
Sovereign Centros from CBRE asset manages Merry Hill, and its leasing agents are Time Retail Partners, JLL, and Font Real Estate.
Last month Jonathan Poole, centre manager at Merry Hill, told the Express & Star “The first half of this year has truly showcased the momentum building at Merry Hill and we’ve loved welcoming visitors from near and far.
“Footfall has grown as visitors continue to respond positively to our evolving offering, including standout retail arrivals like Harvey Norman and the introduction of new leisure favourites such as XF Gym and the popular leisure mall with Hollywood Bowl at its heart.”
He said the popular new additions reflect the centre’s “ambition to create a dynamic, experience-led destination for all” – adding that 2025 is shaping up to be “a milestone year” and promising more to come.