Sanderson Arcade records strongest year on record in 2024

6 January 2025

The team at Sanderson Arcade in Morpeth are celebrating a record-breaking milestone – after hitting the 3 million visitors mark for 2024 during their busy Christmas shopping period.

It’s the first time that the centre has attracted 3 million customers a year. A peak December trading period with footfall topping more than 320,000 saw the team hit the target just before the Christmas break on December 19^th.

December 2024 saw an increase in visitor numbers of 15% across the month, compared to December 2023 – a new range of stores opening throughout the year and an imaginative events strategy bringing shoppers into the award-winning centre.

Early in 2024 the centre underwent a major programme of investment with the White Stuff, Oliver Bonas and the Works joining the line up in the former Sandersons Department Store unit.

Other new retailers to join Sanderson Arcade during 2024 include Reiker Shoes and Weird Fish.

Across the year the centre saw a 6% increase in footfall in 2024 compared to 2023, with the last quarter of the year being the strongest for visitor numbers.

Sanderson Arcade celebrated its 15^th birthday in November 2024. Since opening in 2009, the centre has established itself in the region as a great retail destination with a strong fashion line up as well as a popular restaurant and café offer.

As well as new companies joining the centre the last year has seen a number of key lease renewals, including Morpeth Larder, Vodafone, Jewellers Guild and Phase Eight. The fashion retailer Hobbs also invested in an extensive refit.

The Sanderson Arcade team have worked closely with other businesses during the busy Christmas period, including the Morpeth department store Rutherford’s, on a range of festive events for shoppers.

Centre manager Lottie Thompson said: “We were absolutely delighted to reach the 3 million visitor mark in December, it’s a huge milestone for the centre and fantastic that it came so soon after celebrating the Arcade’s 15^th birthday.

“2024 was definitely a big year for us in terms changes at the centre and we are looking forward in 2025 to working with other local stakeholders in the town on promoting Morpeth. As well as delivering a great diary of events.”

To keep up to date with news and events at Sanderson Arcade visit www.sandersonarcade.co.uk

Photograph shows: Lottie Thompson, centre manager, with Mark Dransfield (left) Chairman of Dransfield Properties which owns Sanderson Arcade and the Managing Director James Shepherd (right).

For further information, contact:

Public Relations Department, Dransfield Properties Ltd
Tel: 01226 360644
Email: pr@dransfield.co.uk