River Island's upsizing at Manchester Arndale attracts French Connection

French Connection is making its way to Manchester Arndale after agreeing to take a 2,189 sq ft unit on a five-year lease at the bustling shopping centre in the heart of central Manchester.

French Connection - a brand renowned for its range of premium womenswear, menswear, accessories, and footwear - is joining a series of new lettings at the shopping destination. These include the arrivals of Dune, The North Face, Nike, Moss and Sunglasses Hut as well as lease renewals from The Watch Lab, Thomas Sabo, and Claire’s.

Manchester Arndale also recently announced a recent upsize from River Island. The retailer signed a new five-year lease at Manchester Arndale and is upsizing by 3,686 sq ft to occupy a 22,415 sq ft unit, as it "commits to in-store investments to enhance the customer experience further".

Manchester Arndale

Steve Gray, Head of European Retail Asset Management at Global Mutual, said: “We’re delighted to welcome French Connection to Manchester Arndale as we continue to attract top-tier brands that cater to Manchester’s stylish clientele. With the centre now over 95% let, and brands like River Island and Thomas Sabo committing their future to the centre, we are confident in our ability to consistently deliver a premier retail experience.

“For shoppers looking to make the most out of their trip to Manchester Arndale, we also have an enticing food and beverage offer, with recent additions including popular choices like Tortilla, Krispy Kreme, and local favourites such as Bubble CiTea and Lazy Sundae. Manchester Arndale continues to uphold its reputation as the North West’s premier retail destination and we’re looking forward to announcing more exciting brands in the coming months.”