The signings demonstrate Hammerson’s strategy to repurpose department stores into smaller units and deliver innovative customer experiences.
The repositioning and repurposing adds to the diverse customer-proposition at Bullring and Grand Central, and introduces new tenant partners that will contribute to the vibrant retail, hospitality and leisure experiences for customers, in line with Hammerson’s strategy to ensure its destinations are vibrant evolving spaces where people and brands want to be. M&S and TOCA Social are both due to open in 2023.
M&S’s location on the Lower and Mid-levels of Bullring benefits from high footfall from street level as well as from Grand Central and New Street rail stations. The new store will provide 67,000sq ft of trading space and will offer customers M&S’s fantastic range across Food, Clothing and Home products.
Above M&S will be a new experiential entertainment offering by TOCA Social, the world’s first interactive football and dining experience, combining immersive gaming football-based games and modern Americana-inspired cuisine. The brand recently launched its first venue at The O2 in London, boasting three bars, selfie booths, arcade machines and a Willy Wonka inspired dessert room.
The new 40,000sq ft TOCA Social space at Bullring & Grand Central will be highly visible for any visitor and will boast immersive pitches where groups can socialise and play a series of football-based games enabled by innovative ball delivery and tracking technology.
