The Mercury Mall
An enclosed shopping and leisure centre in Romford town centre, East London.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
The Mercury Mall is an enclosed shopping and leisure centre in Romford town centre, within the London Borough of Havering in Greater London. It is one of three principal shopping centres serving central Romford, alongside The Liberty and The Brewery. The centre occupies a prominent position in the town and is recognizable for its glass-domed enclosure, a feature that has appeared frequently in local artwork and illustration. The complex opened in June 1990 as Liberty 2, a name that associated it with the existing Liberty Shopping Centre. From the beginning, the development combined retail and leisure uses, although these functions were arranged on separate levels. Shops occupied the first two floors, while the upper levels contained entertainment facilities including a cinema, nightclub and bingo hall. Its original supermarket anchor was Sainsbury's. After Sainsbury's moved to The Brewery development elsewhere in Romford, the former supermarket space was occupied by Wilko. A major expansion took place in 2006, when the former Dolphin Centre site next to the mall was redeveloped and incorporated into the wider retail complex. The project added an Asda supermarket as a major anchor, with a connection to the mall on the second level, and included residential accommodation above part of the supermarket development. During the period from 2006 to August 2010, the centre was owned by The Mall Fund and operated under the name The Mall Romford, reflecting the fund's broader branding strategy. The centre changed hands in 2011, when it was sold as part of a portfolio by The Mall Fund to Rockspring UK and The Other Retail Group. Following the transaction, it adopted the name The Mercury Mall. Rockspring later announced the sale of its shopping-centre portfolio in 2014, and the relevant centres were acquired by Ellandi and Lone Star. The mall has consequently operated within several different ownership structures, while retaining its role as a local retail and leisure destination. Entertainment has remained an important part of the site. The original Odeon Cinema closed in 2001, shortly after The Brewery opened, but the cinema space returned to use in 2012 as Premiere Cinemas. The venue was reported as the cheapest multiplex cinema in the United Kingdom at the time. Premiere Cinemas ceased trading in 2024, after which the space reopened in 2025 as Lumiere Cinema Romford, operated by the non-profit Romford Film Trust. The third level also includes a Mecca Bingo hall and Stages Dance Studio. A fourth level formerly housed Pulse Nightclub, which closed in 1999 and has since remained unused. The Mercury Mall is physically connected to The Liberty by an underground passage beneath the intervening Romford ring road. Despite this connection, the two shopping centres are separately owned and managed. The Mercury has also served as a filming location, appearing in a Reebok television advertisement and in hidden-camera television productions. Since 2017, the centre has hosted the Romford Film Festival, which uses the cinema facilities for a programme lasting approximately five to six days, generally held in May or June. The site also contains food, convenience and service-oriented tenants, including McDonald's. Its current identity is therefore that of a community-oriented shopping centre with retail, food, bingo, dance and cinema uses rather than a single-brand retail operation.
History
The Mercury Mall opened in June 1990 as Liberty 2, a retail and leisure development in Romford town centre. Its name referenced the nearby Liberty Shopping Centre, and the original layout separated shopping from entertainment: the first two levels were devoted primarily to shops, while the upper level contained a cinema, nightclub and bingo hall. Sainsbury's served as the original supermarket anchor. The centre's leisure offer changed over time. The Odeon Cinema closed in 2001, shortly after the opening of The Brewery shopping development elsewhere in Romford. The former cinema later returned in 2012 as Premiere Cinemas. The nightclub component also disappeared when Pulse Nightclub closed in 1999. A fourth floor formerly associated with the nightclub has remained unused since then, while the third level has continued to accommodate leisure uses including Mecca Bingo and Stages Dance Studio. In 2006, the adjacent former Dolphin Centre was redeveloped and incorporated into the retail site. The expansion added an Asda supermarket anchor, connected to the mall at level two, and created residential accommodation above part of the supermarket development. Around the same period, the centre was owned by The Mall Fund and was renamed The Mall Romford, a corporate identity it used from 2006 until August 2010. The site had previously retained substantial Liberty 2 branding. The property was sold in 2011 as part of a portfolio transaction involving The Mall Fund, Rockspring UK and The Other Retail Group. It was subsequently rebranded The Mercury Mall. In 2014, Rockspring announced plans to sell its portfolio of shopping centres, and the relevant centres were sold to Ellandi and Lone Star. No single current owner is identified in the supplied reference material. The mall has also had a cultural and media role in Romford. It appeared as a filming location in a Reebok advertisement and has been used for hidden-camera television programmes. In 2013, it provided a backdrop for the horror film Death Walks. Since 2017, it has hosted the Romford Film Festival, using the cinema venue for a programme lasting approximately five to six days. The centre's physical relationship with The Liberty is unusual. The two developments are separated at ground level by the Romford ring road but linked by an underground passage leading from the lower level of The Mercury into The Liberty. They remain independent properties with separate ownership and management. The Mercury's glass dome has become one of its most recognizable architectural features. Retail occupancy has changed as the local market evolved. The former Sainsbury's space was later occupied by Wilko after Sainsbury's relocated to The Brewery. Wilko closed on 8 October 2023 after the chain entered administration. Premiere Cinema ceased trading in 2024, but the cinema function returned in 2025 when the Romford Film Trust, a non-profit cooperative, reopened the venue as Lumiere Cinema Romford. The mall therefore continues to combine everyday shopping with food, entertainment and community-oriented cultural activity.
- 2025
Lumiere Cinema Romford opens
[1]The cinema venue reopens under the management of the non-profit Romford Film Trust.
- 2024
Premiere Cinema ceases trading
[1]The Premiere Cinema operation ends after more than a decade at the centre.
- 2023
Wilko closes
[1]The Wilko anchor store closes on 8 October following the collapse of the retail chain.
- 2017
Romford Film Festival begins at the centre
[1]The mall becomes the regular venue for the Romford Film Festival.
- 2013
Death Walks uses the mall as a filming location
[1]The shopping centre provides a backdrop for the horror film Death Walks.
- 2012
Premiere Cinemas opens
[1]The former cinema space reopens as Premiere Cinemas.
- 2011
The Mercury Mall name is introduced
[1]Following a portfolio sale involving Rockspring UK and The Other Retail Group, the centre is rebranded The Mercury Mall.
- 2006
Dolphin Centre redevelopment expands the mall
[1]The former Dolphin Centre is redeveloped into part of the retail complex, adding an Asda anchor and residential accommodation.
- 2006
Centre becomes The Mall Romford
[1]Under the ownership of The Mall Fund, the centre adopts The Mall Romford branding.
- 2001
Odeon Cinema closes
[1]The original cinema operation shuts shortly after The Brewery opens elsewhere in Romford.
Products and positioning
A community-oriented shopping and leisure centre serving Romford town centre, combining everyday retail with food, cinema, bingo and local cultural activities.
Shopping centre retail · 1990
Retail stores
The Mercury Mall provides a two-level enclosed retail environment serving everyday shopping needs in Romford. Its tenant mix has included fashion, general merchandise, supermarket and food-related businesses. The centre's retail offer has changed over time as anchors and individual tenants have moved, including the replacement of the original Sainsbury's presence by Wilko and the later closure of Wilko in 2023.
Supermarket · 2006
Asda supermarket
Asda was introduced as a major anchor through the 2006 expansion and redevelopment of the adjacent former Dolphin Centre. The supermarket was connected to the mall at second-floor level and formed part of the enlarged retail scheme, which also included residential accommodation above the supermarket site.
Cinema · 2025
Lumiere Cinema Romford
Lumiere Cinema Romford is the cinema operation occupying the former Premiere Cinema space. It reopened in 2025 under the Romford Film Trust, a non-profit cooperative, restoring film exhibition to the mall after Premiere Cinema ceased trading in 2024.
Leisure and entertainment
Mecca Bingo
Mecca Bingo is one of the leisure uses located on the mall's third level. It forms part of the centre's long-standing combination of retail and entertainment facilities.
Film festival · 2017
Romford Film Festival
The Romford Film Festival is an annual local film event hosted at the centre since 2017. Its programme generally runs for five or six days during May or June and uses the mall's cinema facilities.
Marketing campaigns
- 2017Romford Film Festival
United Kingdom
The centre became the regular venue for Romford Film Festival, providing cinema screens and a prominent local setting for the annual event.
Outcome. The festival has continued as a recurring cultural event associated with the mall.
- Reebok “Belly's gonna getcha!” advertisement
United Kingdom
The Mercury Mall was used as a filming location for a Reebok television advertisement. The mall's lifts are identifiable in the finished commercial.
Outcome. The advertisement gave the centre a visible appearance in a national brand campaign.
Brand decisions
2025
Reopening of the cinema as Lumiere Cinema RomfordProduct launchBackground
Premiere Cinema ceased trading in 2024, leaving the mall's cinema space without its previous operator.
Action taken
The Romford Film Trust reopened the venue as Lumiere Cinema Romford.
Aftermath
Cinema activity returned to the centre under a non-profit cooperative operating model.
2011
Rebranding as The Mercury MallStrategyBackground
The centre was sold as part of a portfolio formerly associated with The Mall Fund.
Action taken
Following the transaction involving Rockspring UK and The Other Retail Group, the property was renamed The Mercury Mall.
Aftermath
The new identity replaced the intervening The Mall Romford branding and remains the centre's current name.
2006
Expansion through Dolphin Centre redevelopmentStrategyBackground
The original Liberty 2 site was expanded through the redevelopment of the adjacent former Dolphin Centre.
Action taken
The enlarged scheme added an Asda supermarket, connected the anchor to the mall at level two and included housing above part of the supermarket site.
Aftermath
The project increased the centre's retail footprint and strengthened its anchor-based shopping offer.
Recent events
- 2025
Lumiere Cinema Romford opens in the former cinema space[1]
Product launch · Other
The former Premiere Cinema venue reopened as Lumiere Cinema Romford under the operation of the non-profit Romford Film Trust.
- 2024
Premiere Cinema ceases trading at The Mercury Mall[1]
Other
Premiere Cinema, which had operated in the centre since 2012, stopped trading in 2024.
- 2023
Wilko store at The Mercury Mall closes after chain enters administration[1]
Bankruptcy · Other
The mall's Wilko anchor store closed on 8 October 2023 following the collapse of the Wilko retail chain and the company's entry into administration.
- 2017
Romford Film Festival continues at The Mercury Mall[1]
Campaign · Other
The centre became the home of the Romford Film Festival, which has used the cinema facilities for an annual multi-day programme generally held in May or June.
Sources2 sources
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