Southgate
A mixed-use shopping and leisure centre in Bath, Somerset, England.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
SouthGate is a mixed-use shopping, dining, leisure and residential development in central Bath, Somerset, England. It occupies a prominent site between Bath Spa railway station, the bus station and the city centre, and takes its name from the historic South Gate area of Bath. The complex contains more than fifty shops, restaurants and food outlets, approximately 99 residential apartments, pedestrianised streets, a public square and an underground car park with about 860 spaces. The present development replaced an earlier Southgate Shopping Centre and adjoining transport and car-park facilities. The earlier centre, designed by Owen Luder, formed part of Bath's post-war commercial landscape. The site also incorporated land associated with the former Bath bus station and Ham Gardens Car Park. Before construction of the current scheme, the 1960s and 1970s structures were demolished and the ground was investigated archaeologically. Excavations documented surviving elements connected with Bath's urban history, including sections of the medieval city wall, the seventeenth-century Bum Ditch, older wells and cellars, and nineteenth-century cobbles associated with Marchant's Passage. The replacement scheme was developed by Multi Corporation UK and designed by Chapman Taylor. Its architecture was intended to respond to Bath's Georgian character rather than reproduce the modernist appearance of the former centre. The buildings use Bath-stone-coloured façades, classical proportions and Georgian-inspired detailing. The scheme provides approximately 37,000 square metres of retail accommodation, around 3,500 square metres of leisure space and about 2,300 square metres of restaurant space, in addition to the residential units and transport-related facilities. Published accounts have differed substantially on the total development cost, so no single figure is treated here as definitive. Construction was affected by a major fire on 23 September 2008 after gas cylinders ignited on the site. The resulting fireball led to the closure of nearby streets and temporary disruption to rail services while emergency crews dealt with the incident. Despite the setback, the completed centre opened in stages: the first phase opened in November 2009, the second in May 2010 and the final phase in August 2010. The apartments, marketed collectively as The Residence, were brought to market in 2011. SouthGate is organised around six principal building areas, including St Lawrence House, Philip House, the former Debenhams building, Block E/F, Marchant House and Southgate House. Seven pedestrian streets converge on SouthGate Place, a central plaza. The development retains or reinterprets several historic street names, including Philip Street, Newark Street, Railway Street and Marchant's Passage. Bridges between some buildings support service access across the commercial blocks. The centre's tenant mix has changed over time. Debenhams served as a major anchor until its Bath store closed in 2021, while Currys, which had a long retail presence in the wider Southgate area, closed its SouthGate branch in 2020 and moved staff and operations to a larger store elsewhere in Bath. Other reported occupiers have included national fashion, beauty, technology, food and café brands such as H&M, New Look, Apple, Urban Outfitters, Fat Face, River Island, Hotel Chocolat, Boots, PizzaExpress, Caffè Nero, Pret A Manger and Sainsbury's Local. Tenant availability is subject to change and the list should not be interpreted as a complete current directory. A later development at Brunel Square strengthened the connection between the shopping centre, Bath Spa station and the bus station. Multi Corporation developed a restaurant quarter in and around Brunel's railway arches, commonly known as The Vaults Restaurant Quarter. SouthGate therefore functions not only as a retail destination but also as part of Bath's central transport, hospitality and residential environment.
History
The SouthGate site lies in a historically significant part of central Bath. Before the modern development, the area included the post-war Southgate Shopping Centre, designed by Owen Luder, together with the former Bath bus station and Ham Gardens Car Park. The wider area was historically associated with The Ham, a tract outside the old city wall whose name survives in local street references. The South Gate itself formed part of Bath's historic defensive and urban layout. The earlier commercial buildings and transport facilities were cleared to make way for a large replacement scheme. Before the underground car park was constructed, archaeologists from the Museum of London Archaeology Service investigated the site. Their work recorded remains and features from several periods of Bath's development, including parts of the original city wall, the seventeenth-century Bum Ditch, an old well, eighteenth-century cellars and nineteenth-century cobbles from Marchant's Passage. These discoveries provided a historical layer beneath a project intended to renew one of Bath's principal shopping areas. Multi Corporation UK developed the new scheme and Chapman Taylor designed it. The architectural brief sought to make the centre compatible with Bath's Georgian townscape. Instead of presenting a single enclosed mall, the scheme uses several buildings, pedestrian streets and a central public space. Bath-stone façades, Georgian-inspired elevations and classical architectural elements were used to create a visual relationship with the surrounding city. The project included retail, dining, leisure, apartments and parking, making it considerably larger than the centre it replaced. Construction suffered a serious incident on 23 September 2008, when gas cylinders caused a fire on the site. A large explosion and fireball rose above the cranes, prompting road closures and a temporary suspension of train stops at the nearby station for safety reasons. The development nevertheless progressed toward a phased opening. The first phase opened on 4 November 2009, the second phase opened in May 2010 and the final phase opened in August 2010. The Georgian Group later recognised the scheme with its Giles Worsley Award for a New Building in a Georgian Context in 2010. The completed precinct contains six principal building areas: St Lawrence House, Philip House, the former Debenhams building, Block E/F, Marchant House and Southgate House. Its layout includes seven pedestrianised streets and SouthGate Place, a central plaza. Several street names reflect routes that existed on or near the site before redevelopment, although some were adapted for the new plan. Bridges connecting Block E/F to Marchant House and Marchant House to Southgate House provide continuous goods-delivery access for commercial occupiers. Block E/F was initially conceived with restaurant accommodation on one level and a leisure centre, including a swimming pool, beneath a large glazed roof. When a leisure operator could not be secured, the proposed leisure floor was converted to offices. The restaurant component was used by operators including Jimmy's World Grill & Bar and Cosy Club at different times. The former Little SouthGate arcade through the block proved difficult to sustain as a retail environment. Planning permission was granted in 2016 to remove it, and the works were completed in 2017, creating room for a cluster of restaurants. In late 2011, Multi began work around Brunel Square to improve the relationship between SouthGate, Bath Spa railway station and Bath bus station. The project also redeveloped part of the station car park and a northern ramp into a restaurant destination set among Brunel's railway arches. Known as The Vaults Restaurant Quarter, the project expanded SouthGate's role beyond conventional shopping and added further food and beverage uses in a distinctive historic setting. Ownership changed during the centre's early operating period. Aviva Investors was identified as an original owner, and British Land acquired a 50% stake in 2013, reportedly paying £101 million while Aviva Investors retained the remaining half. Public descriptions of the overall development cost vary considerably, so no definitive total is stated here. The commercial mix has continued to evolve: long-standing or prominent occupiers such as Currys and Debenhams subsequently left, while fashion, beauty, food, café and restaurant operators have occupied other units. SouthGate remains a mixed-use urban destination integrated with Bath's central transport network.
- 2017
Little SouthGate replaced by restaurants
[1]The arcade was removed and the replacement restaurant units were completed.
- 2016
Planning approval for arcade replacement
[1]Permission was approved to remove the Little SouthGate arcade and create additional restaurant accommodation.
- 2013
British Land takes a half share
[1]British Land acquired a 50% interest, with Aviva Investors retaining the other half.
- 2011
The Residence apartments released
[1]The centre's 99 apartments were released to the market on 16 April under The Residence name.
- 2011
Brunel Square restaurant project begins
[1]Work began on a restaurant quarter around Brunel's railway arches to connect the centre more closely with Bath's railway and bus stations.
- 2010
Final commercial phases completed
[1]The second phase opened in May and the final phase in August. The project also received the Georgian Group's Giles Worsley Award for a New Building in a Georgian Context.
- 2009
First phase opens
[1]The first phase of the new SouthGate precinct opened on 4 November.
- 2008
Construction-site fire
[1]A gas-cylinder fire caused a major emergency at the construction site and temporarily disrupted roads and rail services around Bath Spa.
- 2007
Former Southgate Shopping Centre demolished
[1]The previous Southgate Shopping Centre and associated site structures were cleared as part of preparations for the replacement mixed-use development.
Products and positioning
A central Bath mixed-use destination combining high-street retail, dining, residential accommodation and transport connectivity in architecture designed to complement the city's Georgian context.
Retail and shopping centre · 2009
SouthGate shopping precinct
The principal retail environment comprises more than fifty reported shops across several buildings and pedestrianised streets. The tenant mix has included fashion, beauty, technology, gifts, groceries and services, with occupiers changing over time.
Restaurants and food service · 2009
SouthGate dining offer
SouthGate includes cafés, quick-service food outlets, casual restaurants and a separate restaurant quarter at Brunel Square. Reported operators have included PizzaExpress, Caffè Nero, Pret A Manger, Giraffe, Be At One, Franco Manca, Prezzo and Nando's, although tenant rosters may change.
Residential apartments · 2011
The Residence
The Residence is the collective marketing name for approximately 99 apartments incorporated into Southgate House, Marchant House, Philip House and St Lawrence House. The residential areas include private rooftop gardens.
Restaurant quarter · 2011
The Vaults Restaurant Quarter
Located around Brunel's railway arches at Brunel Square, this dining area was created to strengthen the link between SouthGate and Bath Spa railway station. It combines food and beverage venues with a setting formed by historic railway infrastructure.
Parking facility · 2009
SouthGate underground car park
The development includes an underground car park reported to provide approximately 860 spaces, supporting access to the city-centre retail and dining offer.
Brand decisions
2016
Replace Little SouthGate with restaurant unitsStrategyBackground
The small retail arcade known as Little SouthGate had not sustained a successful tenant mix, while the wider development had demand for additional restaurant space.
Action taken
Planning permission was obtained to remove the arcade and convert the space into four restaurant units.
Aftermath
The works were completed in 2017 and the former arcade was replaced by restaurants including Thaikhun, Comptoir Libanais, Absurd Bird and Tapas Revolution.
2013
British Land acquires a 50% stakeM&ABackground
SouthGate's ownership was restructured after the centre opened, with Aviva Investors identified as an original owner.
Action taken
British Land purchased a 50% interest, reportedly for £101 million, while Aviva Investors retained the other 50%.
Aftermath
The transaction established shared ownership between British Land and Aviva Investors according to the cited reference.
Reported acquisition price for a 50% stake. £101 million (2013)
Sources2 sources
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