Plans to re-open Nuneaton's Ropewalk Shopping Centre revealed

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It has been shut for almost three months



Behind-the-scenes work is taking place to ensure that Nuneaton's biggest shopping centre is ready to safely re-open for business.

Signs have appeared at the main entrances at the Ropewalk Shopping Centre to remind shoppers to stay two metres apart.

Tony Wilkes, centre manager, said they are just the first of a series of measures being put into place in preparation for re-opening.

The shopping centre is due to welcome back customers on June 15.

"We are working behind the scenes to make sure that, on June 15, that we can open safely, both for our tenants and shoppers," he said.

"We have started with the signs on the doors, we have got to put them on the floor next.

"We have invested in hand sanitisers, which will be at both entrances to the centre for people to use.

"We are also due to have the cleaners in on June 12 for a really deep clean of the centre."

Mr Wilkes explained that he has heard from around half of the tenants in the store.

"Places like Pandora, The Works and Roman clothing will be opening, many of them are working now to sort out their stock and move the shops around," he said.

"We have probably heard from half of our tenants so far, we will be chasing up the others."

One of the firms yet to indicate it will open is Next, which is one of the most popular in the whole centre.

"We are waiting to hear from Next what their plans are," Mr Wilkes added.

In the meantime, Mr Wilkes said the management team are looking forward to re-opening.

"We are working with the local authority to make sure we have everything in place," he added.

"We have been closed now for almost three months, I know some centres elsewhere in the country have been able to partially open, but we haven't so we are all really excited to be opening again.

"The economy locally needs it, we just need to make sure it is safe."

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Next not reopening wouldn't surprise me in the least, based on personal experience of their products and service.

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Mystery over future of TJ Hughes store



Mystery surrounds the future of the TJ Hughes store in Nuneaton.

The anchor unit in the Ropewalk Shopping Centre remains closed despite government clearance for retail units to re-open.

The inside of the store looks empty with products removed from the ground floor.

On the shuttered doors there are signs that say 'Until further notice. Store temporarily closed. This is for the protection of our colleagues and customers in the joint bid to fight Covid-19.

"Website still available."

CoventryLive has made repeated attempts to speak with management at the Ropewalk Shopping Centre as well as TJ Hughes itself. No responses have been received to our enquiries.

Back in March, the company behind the outlet division of TJ Hughes collapsed in February, but was later bought out of administration in a rescue deal.

According to Business Live, the Nuneaton store, as well as the Coventry branch, were two of four outlet stores four bought by management in a pre-pack deal.

River Island has not re-opened in the shopping mall and the family-run franchise, Muffin Break, has also shut its doors for good.

Game has made its comeback to the town centre and JD Sports is still set to re-open in the mall, although an opening date has yet to be revealed.

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Mystery solved over future of Nuneaton store



The future of a flagship store in Nuneaton town centre looks clearer - according to a sign on its shutters.

It has appeared on the front of TJ Hughes store in the Ropewalk Shopping Centre and explains why the shop has not re-opened.

Inside, the store has looked eerily quiet with passers-by noticing that stock has been removed.

But the note, which says it is from the store manager, explains that they are having a 'change around' and new stock is on its way.

That is the biggest hint that the flagship store will re-open after Coventry Live's attempts to speak to TJ Hughes and also the Ropewalk Shopping Centre manager fell on deaf ears.

"We apologise for any inconvenience while we relay and restock the store.

"We are taking this opportunity to have a change around, rest assured stock is on its way to refill the store.

"We thank you for your custom and patience during this time. Store manager."

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Flagship high street store closes in Nuneaton



TJ Hughes is leaving Nuneaton - after months of speculation about its future.

Less than a week after a sign was spotted saying it was being re-stocked, another has appeared in the window of the flagship store in the Ropewalk Shopping Centre.

It reads: "This branch is now closed.

"The store manager and staff thank you for your custom," it goes on to add that the nearest TJ Hughes branch in Coventry.

There had been concern about the future of the national retailer's outlet branch since before lockdown as the cafe mysteriously closed but, at the time, bosses said the store was remaining open.

Its closure is a huge loss for the Ropewalk Shopping Centre at a time when it faces having to find new tenants for the former Topshop/Topman store, River Island, Muffin Break, Monsoon and Accesorize.

Coventry Live has made repeated attempts to speak to centre manager Tony Wilkes.

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New tenant for Ropewalk Shopping Centre revealed



Barclays Bank looks set to be moving into Nuneaton's Ropewalk Shopping Centre.

According to a planning application submitted to Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council, the national name is taking a prominent unit at the mall.

The application is for unit 15A, the former home of Utopia clothing, which faces onto Queens Road.

Utopia has moved into the former Topshop and Topman unit within the shopping centre, leaving its old unit empty.

Barclays is seeking planning permission for the iinstallation of two internally illuminated fascia signs, two internally illuminated hanging signs, one non-illuminated digital display panel, one non-illuminated fascia sign and multiple window manifestations.

Contained within the application is proposals of how the new signs, display panels and window changes would look.

Now it is up to planners at the Town Hall to decide whether or not to grant planning permission.

A target decision date has been set for January 2021.

The banking giant already has a branch in Market Place.

It has been based in the prominent town centre building for many years.

Coventry Live has contacted Barclays for a comment on the proposed branch in Ropewalk Shopping Centre and to ask what impact it will have on the existing branch.

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Mystery over disappearance of Nuneaton's first noodle bar



Mystery surrounds the disappearance of Nuneaton's first noodle bar.

As we reported in our newsletter, the Nagoyo Noodles noodle bar was one of a number of new additions at the Ropewalk Shopping Centre last year.

It served its first customers back in October - but has now disappeared.

A specially set-up unit in the walkway of the shopping is no longer there.

It had in-built cooking facilities as well as a place for people to make their orders.

But now the middle of the walkway stands empty.

It is not the only empty unit in the shopping mall - the former River Island, Monsoon and HMV units have no new tenants.

The large flagship former home of TJ Hughes also remains empty.

But, just before Christmas, the Fragrance Shop moved into the former Ernest Jones Jewellers unit and a job centre plus can now be found in the former H&M unit.

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Nuneaton's biggest shopping centre is 'under offer' after being put up for sale



Nuneaton's biggest shopping centre is 'under off' after being put up for sale. According to property websites, the Ropewalk Shopping Centre is 'under offer' after being put on the market.

The shopping centre, which opened in September 2005, sits on land owned by Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council. CoventryLive understands that the sale of the huge building is imminent.

The shopping centre was built on land formerly occupied by the Queens Arcade, part of the old Dugdale Street car park and the old Merevale pub.

The centre, like so many up and down the country, has been hit hard by the pandemic.

It has lost major names such as TopShop, River Island, Monsoon and HMV.

Also, as we reported in our newsletter, JD sports also pulled out of opening a branch within the shopping centre last year.

It has also lost its flagship store, which has been a BHS and also latterly a TJ Hughes. This large unit has stood empty ever since.

A company called Broadway Capital, owned by Irish investor and property developer John McCann, initially owned the centre.

Then, in January 2010, the Bank of Ireland took control of the shopping centre after the firm went into liquidation.

BTW Shields was appointed by the Bank of Ireland to run the shopping centre.

According to the retail website Realla, the shopping centre makes almost £1m in gross income per year, and a net income of £205,585 per annum after the deduction of head rent and landlord non-recoverable costs.

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Nuneaton's Ropewalk Shopping Centre has been sold



Nuneaton's biggest shopping centre has been sold - but the new owner currently remains under wraps. Just weeks after CoventryLive reported that the Ropewalk was under offer, it has been confirmed that final legal agreements are being put in place for the new owner to take over.

Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council, which owns the land that the shopping centre sits on, has confirmed that it has been through 'due diligence' with the new potential new owner.

A spokesman for the Town Hall said: "The council has undertaken due diligence on the potential new owner. However, we are unable to comment further on a commercial transaction which is outside the council’s control as landlord."

BTW Shields, on behalf of the Bank of Ireland, has been running the centre after its initial owner went into liquidation. Who the new owner is remains unknown for the moment but, in a statement, council leader councillor Kris Wilson said they look forward to working with them to make the most of what is the biggest shopping centre in the town.

“We are keen to do business with anyone genuinely interested in improving the prospects and offer in Nuneaton town centre," he said. “We are working hard to bring more people to our town centres to live, work and visit.

“Ropewalk has an important role to play as an anchor to draw in visitors to the town. We will strive to create and maintain good relations with the new owners in order to help drive business into the town and help make it an even more welcoming place to visit."

The shopping centre opened in September 2005 on land many knew for playing home to the Queens Arcade, part of the old Dugdale Street car park and the old Merevale pub.

The Ropewalk has, like others across the country, suffered as a result of the move to online shopping coupled with the impact of the pandemic. It has lost major names such as TopShop, River Island, Monsoon and HMV.

Also, as we reported in our newsletter, JD sports also pulled out of opening a branch within the shopping centre last year. It has also lost its flagship store, which has been a BHS and also latterly a TJ Hughes. This large unit has stood empty ever since.