GO Outdoors sets up at Manchester Arndale’s former Homesense

The JD Sports brand will open a 12,000 sq ft store next weekend at the popular shopping centre off Market Street in the city centre.

Sheffield-headquartered GO Outdoors has taken over the former Homesense unit on the ground floor of the Manchester Arndale. Homesense closed its store in March last year.

GO Outdoors will use the space to entice customers with its array of outdoor clothing, camping equipment, and footwear from brands that include Stocking Rab, OEX, and Berghaus.

This is the second Manchester location for GO, which also occupies space at the Urban Exchange off Great Ancoats Street.

Lee Bagnall, chief executive of GO Outdoors, said the company was “extremely excited and proud” to open at the Arndale.

“We have had a brilliant couple of years at GO, as more and more people are reaping the benefits of the outdoors for their physical and mental well-being, and this expansion is the outcome of that success,” Bagnall said.

“We’re looking forward to offering more customers our unbeatable range of outdoor clothing, footwear, and equipment whilst also supporting local communities and high streets.”

Manchester Arndale centre director David Allinson added: “GO Outdoors is an exciting brand and a big name in the outdoor clothing and equipment world, so we are thrilled to welcome them to Manchester Arndale.

“Our strong mix of retailers helps to attract both high footfall and spend from shoppers across the region. GO Outdoors is an aspirational and established brand which will strengthen our reputation as the go-to shopping destination in the North West.”

The retained agents for the Arndale are Metis Real Estate Advisors and Time Retail Partners. GO Outdoors represented itself on the lease agreement.

M&G Real Estate and Global Mutual are the joint asset managers for the mall, which reported a footfall of more than 46m people last year. In addition to GO Outdoors, other notable recent lettings and openings at the Arndale include Korean supermarket Oseyo, discount chain B&M, bowling alley King Pins, and Korean beauty retailer PureSeoul.