Metquarter facts for kids
Location | Liverpool, Merseyside, England |
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Coordinates | 53°24′24.1″N 2°59′8.5″W / 53.406694°N 2.985694°W |
Opening date | 9 March 2006 |
Developer | Milligan, J. W. Kaempfer and Richardson Developments |
Owner | Anglo Irish Bank Private Banking and Alanis Capital |
No. of stores and services | 38 |
Total retail floor area | 160,000 sq ft (15,000 m2) |
No. of floors | 2 |
Metquarter is a shopping centre consisting primarily of boutique stores located in central Liverpool, England.
All businesses located in Metquarter are members of City Central, a Business Improvement District (BID) representing approximately 630 businesses in Liverpool city centre.
History
The current Metquarter building previously served as Liverpool's General Post Office, which was reminiscent of a French chateau. The building was severely damaged in the May blitz in 1941, resulting in the demolition of the upper floors. The site was formerly owned by The Walton Group and was acquired in 2004 by Milligan (a retail development company that is also linked with Triangle Manchester the retail and leisure operations in Manchester and London Luton Airports) and J. W. Kaempfer and Richardson Developments. Over the space of two years from what was thought to cost £70 million eventually came to a total of £100 million and the former Post Office building was transformed into a 160,000 sq ft (15,000 m2) leisure and retail centre. Metquarter was opened in March 2006. Following a successful 18-month launch period, Milligan sold Metquarter in August 2007 to Anglo Irish Bank Private Banking and Alanis Capital, the current owners.
In 2020 plans were submitted to Liverpool City Council to convert upper floors of the centre into teaching rooms, recording studios and common rooms for students at Liverpool Media Academy.
Stores and services
Metquarter is located on Whitechapel in Liverpool city centre and home to roughly 40 shops. It is the third largest shopping centre in the city, behind Liverpool One and St. John's Shopping Centre, but ahead of Cavern Walks, a boutique arcade. Metquarter has been called the 'Bond Street of Liverpool'.
Metquarter is home to the following brands: Gieves and Hawkes, Jack Wills, Links of London, Jo Malone, TM Lewin, Hugo Boss, Kurt Geiger, L K Bennett, Sasson Salon, Paperchase and Lambretta amongst many others. Besides retail outlets in Metquarter there is also a Costa Coffee and an offshoot of the Everyman Theatre.