Landsec eyes £95m in Black Friday sales at shopping centres including Bluewater and Liverpool ONE
Real estate company, Landsec, expects shoppers to have spent more than £95 million across its national portfolio of shopping centres during Black Friday week (the period between Monday 24th - Sunday 30th November), including Bluewater, Gunwharf Quays, Liverpool ONE and Braintree Village, as Christmas spending gains momentum.
Last year, total spend across Landsec’s destinations during Black Friday week (the period between Monday 25th and Sunday 1st December) reached just over £91 million.
It expects that health and beauty will be the standout category for the second consecutive year, with sales expected to hit £11 million. The sector has been a strong performer throughout 2025, driven by consumers seeking affordable luxuries, purchasing small but often at an average of £23 per transaction.
Apparel is also projected to perform strongly as shoppers look for stylish gifts and update their festive wardrobes.
Last year during Black Friday week, Landsec recorded:
A 15% rise in footfall compared to the previous week, the equivalent of 680,000 additional visitors
Over five million total visitors, making it the third busiest week of the season, behind only the second and third weeks in December
A 32% increase in sales across its destinations compared to the previous week
Outlet centres were particularly strong performers, with sales up 55% week-on-week, reflecting shoppers’ continued appetite for value. In 2024, Black Friday shoppers spent the most on health and beauty (+46% sales week-on-week), gifts, cards, toys and books (+43%), and accessories (+40%).
Bruce Findlay, Managing Director of Retail at Landsec, says: “With Christmas now just a month away, festive shopping is in full swing. Black Friday continues to be relevant for consumers looking to take advantage of discounts, and we expect it will once again be a major moment in this year’s Golden Quarter."
“In-person retail continues to offer something unique at this time of year. With major brands investing in larger, experience led spaces and leading destinations combining retail, dining and leisure, shopping in person offers far more than just scrolling for deals - it’s about atmosphere, discovery and spending time with family and friends.”
2025 RTIH INNOVATION AWARDS
Physical retail was a key focus area at the 2025 RTIH Innovation Awards.
We received a record number of entries and many fantastic examples of the continued resilience and dynamism of the retail space during hugely challenging times.
For a full rundown of all of the shortlisted entries, click here.
Our 2025 hall of fame entrants were revealed during a sold out event which took place at The HAC in Central London on 16th October and consisted of a drinks reception, three course meal, and awards ceremony presided over by award winning comedian, actress and writer Tiff Stevenson.
In his welcome speech, Scott Thompson, Founder and Editor, RTIH, said: “This is the awards’ fifth year as a physical event. We started off with just 30 people at the South Place Hotel not far from here, then moved to London Bridge Hotel, then The Barbican, and last year RIBA’s HQ in the West End.”
“But I’m conscious of the fact that, to quote the legend that is Taylor Swift, You’re only as hot as your last hit, baby. So, this year we’ve moved to our biggest venue yet, and also pulled in our largest number of entries to date and broken attendance records.”
He added: “This year’s submissions have without doubt been our best yet. To quote one of the judges: The examples of innovative developments across both traditional and digital retail spaces were truly remarkable.”
Congratulations to our winners, and a big thank you to our sponsors, judging panel, the legend that is Tiff Stevenson, and all those who attended our 2025 gathering.
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