Princes Quay

Princes Quay is a shopping and leisure centre in the centre of Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, England. Its defining architectural feature is that much of the complex is constructed on stilts over Prince's Dock, the dock from which the centre takes its name. The waterside setting is central to the development's identity: large windows provide views across the dock and Hull Marina, while the centre uses nautical terminology such as "decks" for its retail levels. The complex opened to the public on 15 March 1991 with more than 80 retail outlets arranged across three principal decks around a central atrium. Its lower level, Harbour Deck, incorporated a food court, while the centre also included an integrated multi-storey car park with approximately 1,000 spaces. The car park is connected to the A63 for eastbound traffic entering Hull. Princes Quay is also positioned close to the city's main public transport facilities, with bus stops outside the centre and Hull Paragon Interchange within walking distance. A fourth level, known as Top Deck, was converted from retail accommodation into a cinema in 2007. The cinema was operated by Vue and included a 10-screen configuration. At the time of its opening, one of its screens was described as Europe's first digital cinema screen, adding a significant leisure component to what had initially been primarily a retail scheme. The centre has periodically adapted its tenant mix and food-and-beverage offer in response to changing retail conditions. In 2011, work began on reshaping the food court into a group of casual dining restaurants with views over the dock. The programme included the return of PizzaExpress to Hull and the opening of a second Nando's location in the city. The dining changes were intended to strengthen the activity around Princes Dock Street and broaden the centre beyond conventional shopping. A major western expansion, known as Quay West, received outline planning permission in December 2006. The proposed project would have added approximately 500,000 square feet of retail and leisure space, including around 60 shops, two department stores, restaurants and cafés, a health and sports club, and a 175-bedroom hotel. The development was expected to open in 2011, but it was cancelled in October 2010 after a change in ownership, the economic downturn and reductions in regeneration funding affected its viability. Princes Quay later pursued a more limited modernisation programme. Plans announced in 2015 proposed a multimillion-pound refurbishment. By early 2016, the proposals included up to 28 new outlets on a retail area marketed as the Outlet Deck, together with improvements to the food court. Next was announced as an anchor tenant in October 2016, with construction expected to be completed around Easter 2017. The centre also has a continuing connection with Hull's maritime and waterside character through the Hull International Canoe Polo tournament. The event has been held each July on the waters around the shopping centre since 1991 and is organised by Kingston Kayak Club. Princes Quay therefore functions not only as a retail destination but also as a prominent piece of Hull's dockside regeneration and civic waterfront environment.

Princes Quay emerged from the redevelopment of Prince's Dock in Hull and opened on 15 March 1991. Its design placed the shopping centre over the dock on supporting stilts, creating a distinctive waterside retail environment rather than a conventional enclosed mall on a standard ground-level site. The architecture incorporated extensive glazing so that visitors could see the dock and Hull Marina, and the development adopted a nautical vocabulary in its internal layout, referring to retail levels as decks. At opening, the centre was organised around a central atrium and comprised three retail decks containing more than 80 outlets. Harbour Deck, the lowest level, contained a food court. A large integrated car park provided approximately 1,000 spaces and was connected to the A63, while local bus services and Hull Paragon Interchange gave the centre strong public transport access. Princes Quay expanded its leisure role in 2007 when former retail units on Top Deck were converted into a 10-screen Vue cinema. The cinema included a digital screen described at the time as Europe's first of its kind. This conversion reflected the centre's broader development from a shopping-only destination into a mixed retail, food and entertainment venue. The most ambitious proposed change was Quay West, a western extension for which outline planning permission was granted in December 2006. The proposal called for about 500,000 square feet of additional space, approximately 60 shops, two department stores, restaurants and cafés, a health and sports club, and a 175-bedroom hotel. The project was expected to contribute significantly to the local economy and was targeted for completion in 2011. It did not proceed: the scheme was cancelled in October 2010 amid a change of ownership, difficult economic conditions and cuts affecting regeneration projects. The centre instead pursued incremental changes to its existing offer. In 2011, the Harbour Deck food court began to be reworked into a casual dining area overlooking the dock. PizzaExpress returned to Hull and Nando's added a second location in the city, while additional restaurant operators were considered for the dining quarter. In 2015, Princes Quay announced a multimillion-pound refurbishment. The following year, the plans were refined to include an Outlet Deck with up to 28 new outlets and a refreshed food court. Next was named as the new anchor tenant in October 2016, with completion anticipated around Easter 2017. The centre's location also supports community and sporting activity. Since 1991, the waters surrounding Princes Quay have hosted the Hull International Canoe Polo tournament each July. Organised by Kingston Kayak Club, the event reinforces the connection between the centre, Prince's Dock and Hull's maritime setting. Across its history, Princes Quay has therefore combined retail accommodation with cinema, dining, parking, waterfront views and local event activity, while repeatedly adapting its format in response to changing market conditions.

• 2016

  Outlet Deck plans and Next anchor announced

  [1]Princes Quayen.wikipedia.org

  The refurbishment proposals included up to 28 new outlets and a food court facelift, with Next identified as the new anchor tenant.

• 2015

  Refurbishment programme announced

  [1]Princes Quayen.wikipedia.org

  Plans for a multimillion-pound centre makeover were announced.

• 2011

  Harbour Deck dining redevelopment begins

  [1]Princes Quayen.wikipedia.org

  The former food court began transitioning toward a casual dining quarter with dockside views.

• 2010

  Quay West project cancelled

  [1]Princes Quayen.wikipedia.org

  The proposed expansion was abandoned because of ownership changes, economic conditions and reduced regeneration funding.

• 2007

  Top Deck becomes a Vue cinema

  [1]Princes Quayen.wikipedia.org

  A 10-screen cinema was created from former retail units on the upper level, adding a major leisure anchor.

• 2006

  Quay West receives outline planning permission

  [1]Princes Quayen.wikipedia.org

  Outline permission was granted for a major western extension combining retail, hospitality, dining, health and leisure uses.

• 1991

  Princes Quay opens

  [1]Princes Quayen.wikipedia.org

  The centre opened to the public on 15 March with more than 80 retail outlets across three decks, a central atrium and a Harbour Deck food court.

• 1991

  Hull International Canoe Polo tournament begins at the waterfront

  [1]Princes Quayen.wikipedia.org

  The annual tournament began using the waters around the shopping centre and has continued as a recurring local sporting event.

A centrally located Hull shopping and leisure destination differentiated by its waterside architecture, dock views, nautical design language and combination of retail, dining, cinema and parking facilities.

• Shopping centre retail · 1991

  Retail decks

  The principal retail offer of Princes Quay consists of shops arranged around a central atrium on multiple levels known as decks. The centre's tenant mix has included fashion, general retail and other town-centre services. Later refurbishment plans introduced the Outlet Deck as a more value-oriented retail area with space for up to 28 outlets.

• Food and beverage · 1991

  Harbour Deck

  Harbour Deck is the lower level of the centre and originally incorporated the main food court. It was subsequently targeted for refurbishment and repositioning as a casual dining quarter, using the dockside outlook as part of the visitor experience. The redevelopment included PizzaExpress and a second Nando's outlet in Hull.

• Cinema and leisure · 2007

  Top Deck Vue cinema

  Top Deck was created by converting former retail units into a 10-screen Vue cinema in 2007. The facility expanded Princes Quay's role as an evening and leisure destination and included a digital screen described at the time as Europe's first digital cinema screen.

• Customer access service · 1991

  Integrated multi-storey car park

  An approximately 1,000-space multi-storey car park is integrated with the centre. It is accessed from the A63 for eastbound traffic entering Hull and forms part of Princes Quay's wider destination infrastructure.

• 2015

  Launch a multimillion-pound refurbishment programmeStrategy

  Background

  The centre required a refreshed offer as shopping-centre competition and consumer habits changed.

  Action taken

  Plans were announced for a major makeover of the existing complex.

  Aftermath

  The programme was developed into plans for an Outlet Deck, new outlets and improvements to the food court, with Next later identified as an anchor tenant.

  Source

• 2011

  Reposition the food court as a casual dining quarterStrategy

  Background

  The centre aimed to increase dwell time and improve the appeal of its dockside frontage by broadening the food offer.

  Action taken

  Work began to replace the conventional food-court format with several casual dining restaurants overlooking the dock.

  Aftermath

  PizzaExpress returned to Hull and Nando's opened a second outlet in the city, adding restaurant activity around Princes Dock Street.

  Source

• 2010

  Cancel the Quay West projectStrategy

  Background

  The large western expansion faced a changed ownership position, adverse economic conditions and cuts to regeneration projects.

  Action taken

  The proposed extension was abandoned rather than progressed toward construction.

  Aftermath

  Princes Quay focused on adapting its existing centre through food, leisure and refurbishment initiatives rather than delivering the planned new wing.

  Source

• 2006

  Plan the Quay West western expansionStrategy

  Background

  Princes Quay sought to enlarge its retail and leisure footprint and strengthen its contribution to Hull's regeneration. The proposed western scheme would have added approximately 500,000 square feet of space.

  Action taken

  Outline planning permission was obtained for a development containing shops, department stores, restaurants, cafés, a health and sports club and a hotel.

  Aftermath

  The scheme was later cancelled in 2010 after ownership changes, the economic downturn and reduced regeneration funding undermined its feasibility.

  Source

1. 1Princes Quayen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Princes Quay official websiteprincesquay.com