Shopping centre closure date confirmed for refurb

The Brunswick Centre was bought by Scarborough Group International in 2021

A shopping centre in Scarborough will officially close for its revamp into a "vibrant new town centre destination" in September, its owners have said.

Scarborough's Brunswick Centre was bought by a developer in 2021 after a decline in footfall, and plans for its transformation include building an Odeon cinema and new food court at the site.

Owners Scarborough Group International (SGI) said the venue would close to the public on 17 September before redevelopment work began in the autumn.

An SGI spokesperson said: "This is about more than buildings. It's about reimagining the heart of the town and creating a place where people want to spend time."

The plans for the centre were officially approved in 2023, with the cinema expected to take up to 29,060 sq ft (2,700 sq m) of the Brunswick's almost 150,690 sq ft (14,000 sq m) of space.

'Much-needed transformation'

Mark Jackson, project lead, said: "The closure of Brunswick is a major step forward, not just for the project, but for the wider regeneration of Scarborough.

"While change can be disruptive in the short term, this marks the start of a much-needed transformation that will help the town centre match the strength of its visitor appeal."

The seaside town attracted more than 23 million visits a year and "outperforms major cities in dwell time and year-round tourism", Mr Jackson added.

As well as the cinema, the scheme is expected to see the redevelopment of the interior and exterior of the building, a multi-storey car park, refurbished shop fronts along Westborough and the opening of the facade with large glass panels to allow in more natural light, according to the the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

A North Yorkshire Council spokesperson said the project could help "uplift the whole area".

They added: "It's very obvious when you visit Scarborough, particularly that part of the town, what a key role this building could hold in the revitalisation of this part of Scarborough."

Several businesses which previously occupied spaces in the shopping centre, including The Fragrance Shop, Holland & Barrett, Toyland and Nomination, have relocated within Scarborough, while Next relocated to a larger store on Seamer Road after failing to agree a long-term lease with the current owners.

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