Broughton Shopping Park
A major retail and leisure park in Broughton, Flintshire, Wales, serving communities on both sides of the England–Wales border.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Broughton Shopping Park, also known as Broughton Centre, is a retail and leisure destination in Broughton, Flintshire, Wales. It occupies a strategically important location on Chester Road, close to the A55 and opposite the Airbus factory. The site is approximately four miles west of Chester city centre and around 400 metres from the England–Wales border, giving it a substantial cross-border catchment that includes North Wales, Cheshire and the wider North West of England. The park opened in June 1999 with approximately 300,000 square feet of retail space. Its arrival gave residents of north-east Wales a substantial local alternative to shopping in Chester city centre and at Cheshire Oaks, which had opened several years earlier. The original scheme contained 16 retailers and employed just under 1,000 people. Early occupants included Tesco, WH Smith, Clarks, Next and Soccer Sports, the predecessor of Sports Direct. Many of the original retail categories remain represented, although individual operators and store formats have changed over time. British Land began managing the centre in 2007. From 2014 onward, the site underwent a major programme of investment and expansion, including improvements to public areas, car parks and shopfronts. A leisure component was added during this period. Restaurants opened in phases from 2014, and Cineworld opened an 11-screen cinema with an IMAX auditorium in 2015. The development helped shift the park from a conventional out-of-town shopping scheme toward a combined retail, food and entertainment destination. The tenant mix has included major high-street, fashion, sports, grocery, food-service and entertainment brands. Examples identified in published descriptions include Asda Living, Primark, Sports Direct, M&S Foodhall, JD Sports, Footasylum, The Body Shop, EE, Lush, Cineworld and a range of restaurants and cafés. The Mill House pub and a McDonald's are also located on the site. Store openings and closures have continued to change the composition of the park; for example, Lush opened its first North Wales store there in 2023, while Tim Hortons later closed its drive-through unit in late 2025. By the late 2010s, the centre had expanded to approximately 365,000 square feet and around 38 retailers. British Land reported annual visitation of roughly 10.5 million people and employment of approximately 1,900 to 2,000 people, depending on the reporting period and measurement. A 2018 economic-impact report commissioned by the owner and prepared by Regeneris attributed significant employment, business-rate and gross-value-added effects to the centre in Flintshire and Wales. The reported figures are historical impact estimates rather than current financial statements. Broughton's border location has also made it sensitive to transport and public-health policy. During the COVID-19 pandemic, non-essential retail and hospitality businesses closed and reopened according to Welsh Government rules, which did not always coincide with restrictions in England. The possibility of shoppers crossing the border created concerns about enforcement, travel and transmission. Separately, debate has continued over access to the centre, particularly the A55 junction 36a and routes through Broughton village. In 2021, a North Wales Member of the Senedd called for improvements, while the Welsh Government indicated that it would focus on alternative travel measures rather than alter the junction. Today, Broughton Shopping Park functions as a regional shopping and leisure hub rather than a conventional single-brand retail business. Its brand is associated with convenience, a broad tenant mix, accessible parking, dining and cinema entertainment, and a large catchment spanning Welsh and English communities.
History
The land now occupied by Broughton Shopping Park lies between Bretton Road, Chester Road and Bretton Lane. Parts of the western side were formerly used by the Mold Railway, which operated between 1849 and 1983. The former railway alignment later became associated with site uses including the Mill House pub and McDonald's, while the eastern portion had historically been farmland. The shopping centre opened in June 1999 with approximately 300,000 square feet of retail space. It was developed to provide a substantial shopping facility for north-east Wales, whose residents had often travelled to Chester for major shopping trips. At opening, the scheme had 16 retailers and employed just under 1,000 people. Early occupants included Tesco, WH Smith, Clarks, Next and Soccer Sports, the business later known as Sports Direct. The opening ceremony was conducted by Emmerdale actor Malandra Burrows. British Land began managing the centre in 2007. A significant transformation began in 2014, when the operator started investing in the physical environment and expanding the range of leisure uses. Restaurants including Chiquito and Prezzo opened during the early part of the programme. In 2015, the leisure extension was completed with Cineworld's 11-screen cinema and IMAX auditorium, together with further restaurants including Pizza Express and Nando's. This gave the site a stronger evening and entertainment offer. Further retail growth followed in 2016, when Primark opened what was described as its 300th store, alongside an M&S Foodhall and Outfit. In the same year, a major refurbishment of public areas, car parks and shopfronts began. The work included new canopies and double-height glazing. Additional brands, including The Body Shop, JD Sports, EE, the former Toys R Us and Footasylum, opened during 2017, when the improvement programme was completed. By the end of the expansion period, the park had grown to about 365,000 square feet and approximately 38 retailers. Published descriptions identify it as one of North Wales's busiest retail parks, with annual footfall estimates of roughly 10 to 10.5 million visitors. The centre has also become an important local employment site. A 2018 report by Regeneris, commissioned by British Land, estimated that the centre supported about 1,900 jobs, contributed £53 million in annual gross value added to Flintshire and £84 million to Wales, and generated substantial local business-rate receipts. These are report-period impact estimates and should not be interpreted as the park's revenue or profit. Community activity has formed part of the centre's public identity. The published impact material describes a Young Readers programme run with the National Literacy Trust, support for local community projects, charitable fundraising and dementia-friendly training for staff. Environmental claims in the same material include high rates of construction and operational waste diversion, reuse of construction materials, reduced energy consumption and lower carbon emissions after refurbishment. In 2019, the park marked its twentieth anniversary by proposing support for 20 local good deeds, inviting residents to nominate community initiatives. In 2020, plans for a Pure Gym facility were approved for the former Nike unit. The COVID-19 pandemic then led to the closure of non-essential shops and hospitality businesses in late March 2020. Essential retail, including the supermarket, remained available, while other operators reopened in stages during June, July and August in accordance with Welsh rules. The park's position near the border became particularly significant during the pandemic. Welsh and English lockdown and reopening timetables differed, producing concerns that shoppers might cross the border to visit retail and hospitality venues. These concerns involved public-health compliance, policing and pressure on retail staff. Similar cross-border issues arose during later restrictions, including the Welsh firebreak period in autumn 2020 and the staged reopening of non-essential businesses in March 2021. Transport access remains another recurring issue. In November 2021, Sam Rowlands, a Member of the Senedd for North Wales, called for improvements to the A55 junction 36a and to the western approach through Broughton village. The Welsh Government declined to alter the junction at that time and said it would focus on alternative ways of travelling to the centre. The tenant mix has continued to evolve. Lush opened its first North Wales store at the park in July 2023, while Tim Hortons later closed its drive-through unit in late 2025. The centre remains an active retail and leisure destination with a regional, cross-border customer base.
- 2023
Lush opens first North Wales store
[1]Lush opened its first store in North Wales at Broughton Shopping Park.
- 2020
Pure Gym plans approved
[1]Flintshire Council approved a proposed 24-hour Pure Gym in the former Nike premises.
- 2019
Twentieth anniversary community programme
[1]The centre announced a plan to support 20 local good deeds in recognition of its twentieth anniversary.
- 2017
Major improvement programme concludes
[1]Refurbishment concluded after further retailer openings, including JD Sports, EE, The Body Shop and Footasylum.
- 2016
Primark expansion and refurbishment launch
[1]Primark opened a store described as its 300th, while public-realm, parking and shopfront refurbishment began.
- 2015
Cineworld IMAX cinema opens
[1]An 11-screen Cineworld cinema including an IMAX auditorium opened as part of the leisure development.
- 2014
Expansion and leisure investment begins
[1]British Land began a substantial programme of improvement and added restaurants and leisure uses.
- 2007
British Land begins management
[1]British Land became the centre's managing organisation.
- 1999
Shopping centre opens
[1]Broughton Park opened in June with approximately 300,000 square feet, 16 retailers and just under 1,000 employees.
Products and positioning
A large, accessible regional retail-and-leisure destination serving North Wales and nearby parts of Cheshire and north-west England, combining high-street brands with food, entertainment and services.
Retail space · 1999
Retail units
The park's core offering is a managed collection of retail units occupied by national and international chains. The mix spans fashion, footwear, sportswear, food retail, home goods, beauty, telecommunications and services. Tenants have changed over time, but the centre's regional appeal depends on combining everyday shopping with destination stores such as Primark, Asda Living and Sports Direct.
Hospitality · 2014
Food and drink venues
Restaurants, cafés, fast-food outlets and pubs complement the shopping offer. The site has included Frankie and Benny's, Nando's, Prezzo, Pizza Express, Chiquito, McDonald's and The Mill House, although individual operators and formats vary by period.
Entertainment · 2015
Cineworld IMAX cinema
The Cineworld development brought an 11-screen multiplex and IMAX auditorium to the park in 2015. It broadened the centre's role from daytime shopping destination to a retail, dining and evening-entertainment complex.
Fitness · 2020
Pure Gym facility
A 1,069-square-metre, 24-hour Pure Gym facility was approved for the former Nike unit in 2020. The available reference confirms planning approval but does not establish the facility's later operating status.
Marketing campaigns
- 201920 good deeds anniversary initiative
Local Broughton and Flintshire community
For its twentieth anniversary, Broughton Shopping Park asked residents to nominate 20 local good deeds or community causes for support.
Outcome. The cited material records the announcement and nomination process but does not provide a complete outcome list.
- 2013Young Readers programme
Broughton · Flintshire
The centre supported a Young Readers programme with the National Literacy Trust. Published impact material states that more than 994 school pupils had benefited by the time of the cited report.
Outcome. Reported participation exceeded 994 pupils.
Brand decisions
2020
Approval of Pure Gym conversionOtherBackground
The former Nike unit became available after the Nike store closed in 2019.
Action taken
Flintshire Council approved proposals for a 1,069-square-metre, 24-hour Pure Gym.
Aftermath
The approval created a route to repurpose a vacant retail unit for fitness use, but the supplied material does not confirm the eventual opening.
2020
Staged pandemic closure and reopeningStrategyBackground
Welsh COVID-19 restrictions required non-essential retail and hospitality venues to close, while essential retail continued operating.
Action taken
The centre closed most operations in late March and reopened shops and restaurants in stages during June, July and August in line with Welsh Government rules.
Aftermath
Different Welsh and English reopening timetables created cross-border visitor, policing and public-health concerns.
2014
Shift toward a retail-and-leisure destinationStrategyBackground
The centre was seeking to expand beyond conventional shopping and strengthen its regional draw.
Action taken
British Land invested in public-area improvements, new restaurants and a leisure extension that later included Cineworld.
Aftermath
The park grew in size and tenant breadth, with cinema, dining and further national retailers added through 2017.
Recent events
- 2025
Tim Hortons drive-through closes[1]
Other
Tim Hortons' drive-through unit at the centre, described as its first in Wales, closed in late 2025.
- 2023
Lush opens first North Wales store at Broughton[1]
Product launch
Lush opened its first North Wales shop in a unit previously occupied by Monsoon.
- 2021
Call for improvements to Broughton access and A55 junction[1]
Other
North Wales MS Sam Rowlands called for improvements to access around junction 36a of the A55 and routes through Broughton; the Welsh Government said it would pursue alternative travel measures instead.
- 2020
Pure Gym proposal approved[1]
Product launch
Flintshire Council approved plans for a 1,069-square-metre, 24-hour Pure Gym in the former Nike unit.
- 2020
COVID-19 restrictions produce staged closures and reopenings[1]
Regulation
Most of the centre closed during lockdown apart from essential retail, with reopening taking place in stages under Welsh Government rules. Differences between Welsh and English restrictions created cross-border concerns.
- 2019
Twentieth-anniversary community-good-deeds programme announced[1]
Campaign
To mark two decades since opening, the centre invited local residents to nominate 20 community good deeds for support.
- 2018
Broughton Centre economic-impact report published[1]
Other
A British Land-commissioned Regeneris report assessed the centre's contribution to jobs, local spending, business rates, visitor activity and the Flintshire and Welsh economies.
- 2017
Broughton refurbishment programme completed[1]
Other
A multi-year programme upgraded public areas, parking, shopfronts, canopies and glazing, while new retailers such as JD Sports, EE, The Body Shop and Footasylum joined the centre.
- 2016
Primark opens its 300th store at Broughton[1]
Product launch
The park added a large Primark store as part of its continuing retail expansion, alongside an M&S Foodhall and Outfit.
- 2015
Cineworld and leisure development completed at Broughton[1]
Product launch
A new leisure phase opened, including an 11-screen Cineworld cinema with an IMAX auditorium and additional restaurants.
Sources2 sources
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