TWENTY new stores have opened at the Merry Hill shopping centre this year - with more on the way in 2024. 

The list of openings range from food and drink, leisure and fashion and include Hollywood Bowl, wagamama, Sides and KENJI.

Larger Phase Eight and Hobbs stores have also opened as well as a new Starbucks. 

And more new offerings are on the way - with new gym XTRAFIT set to open in the summer in part of the old Debenhams site.

The German-born brand said it would provide visitors with an "expectation-defying athletic space - offering premium fitness for an accessible price".

A range of courses will be on offer, for both large and boutique style classes, ranging from strength, and dance, to yoga, boxing, HIIT, and cycling, held in multiple state-of-the-art studios.

There will also be wellness facilities such as saunas, massage chairs and luxury changing facilities.

Jonathan Poole, Centre Manager said it is “one of the leading shopping destinations in the UK."

He said: “In the past year alone, we have seen a host of big and well-known brands invest in the centre.

"With the addition of major fashion brands such as Vanilla, Suit Direct, schuh Kids and concept store Nike Unite, alongside a flagship leisure opening, with Hollywood Bowl joining the centre in September, and fitness operator XTRAFIT coming next summer.

“This all arrived in addition to the reopening of a H&M flagship concept store and Primark Home in recent years too.

"We also continue to upgrade the centre’s food and drink offering for our visitors with hugely successful openings this year from wagamama, ASK Italian, Starbucks, Sides, and Big Smoke Burger and Wings.

“While the retail and leisure industry has faced challenges over the last few years, we’re pleased to see how the centre is thriving.

"The exciting openings and expansions in 2023 show the level of investment being put into rejuvenating Merry Hill.

“We are constantly striving to bring new offerings, shopping experiences and enhanced choice to our customers of all ages and interests, with more exciting additions coming in 2024.”

The centre is also home to many concept or flagship stores from brands including Primark Home, Next, The Body Shop’s sustainable concept store, TUI, and Nike Unite.

There will soon be a total of 93 chargers across the centre’s car parks, representing a £2.5 million investment from Merry Hill and its charging partners Tesla and Zest.

Full list of openings since Jan 2023

1. Soley Grail Soley Customs

2. Primark Disney Café

3. Rado

4. Vanilla

5. schuh Kids

6. Nike Unite

7. wagamama

8. Halloween House (seasonal)

9. Hollywood Bowl

10. Phase Eight (upscaling)

11. Hobbs (upscaling)

12. Suit Direct

13. Starbucks

14. KENJI

15. Sides

16. ASK Italian

17. Big Smoke Burger

18. Christmas House (seasonal)

19. Timpsons

20. Bubbleology