Friday, November 15, 2024

Greggs arrives in High Wycombe shopping centre amid fears it’s ‘becoming food hall’

Must read

The shopping centre has confirmed that a Greggs bakery will join Taco Bell and a newly-relocated Burger Daddy inside the central High Wycombe complex “very soon” – but as the town also prepares to welcome its fifth McDonald’s branch, is it being overrun by cheap and cheerful takeaway chains?

The new Greggs, which will be Wycombe’s fourth alongside bases in Micklefield, Queens Street and New Road, is setting up shop in the former Patisserie Valerie unit on Newlands Meadow.

The sausage roll chain has yet to confirm whether the Eden site will replace one of its other spots – with the small Queens Street branch the most likely contender – but either way, the shopping centre’s promised influx of “exciting new arrivals” this year appear largely to be hospitality, rather than retail spots.

It’s a move that has been met with confusion and frustration from locals – with Czesh Inglot suggesting the complex was “turning into a food court rather than a shopping centre”.

John Tierney added: “(It) just shows the trouble our town is in when all you can attract is food. Eden has become (one big) restaurant, not a destination to shop.”

READ MORE: ‘If we don’t use it we’ll lose it’: Vernon Kay urges shoppers to visit High Wycombe

Add David Alan-Taylor suggested: “It would work if they actually had a ‘food hall’ at one end – (they) could run it from Burger King to Primark and (have) non-food shopping along the rest of it.”

The new restaurant arrivals follow a series of retailer closures in the centre, including Amour Boutique, Zara, Collectables R Us and Toys UK in the last year.

It also comes after ex-mayor Trevor Snaith told the Free Press that the imminent arrival of a fifth McDonald’s near Wycombe Retail Park was symbolic of a decrease in “footfall and spending” in the town, resulting in a “proliferation” of fast-food spots.

He added: “Compared to Marlow and Beaconsfield, the profile of (Wycombe) is just different. It doesn’t feel like money’s being spent on the right things.”

Centre Director Andrew Norton said: “We’re delighted to welcome Greggs to Eden Shopping Centre, where it will take the place of an existing eatery and offer even more variety for our visitors.

“With new leisure attractions like TeamSport go-karting and Clip ‘n Climb indoor rock climbing arriving soon, we’re continuing to build on Eden’s reputation as the region’s top destination for all things shopping, food and entertainment.”

Latest article