The opening of primark epsom as the Ashley Centre’s new anchor tenant marks a decisive moment for the town centre: a two-floor, 31, 400 sq ft store has replaced the former House of Fraser space following a £7m refurbishment of the scheme. Located next to JD Sports and close to established names such as Next, Oliver Bonas and Monsoon, the new store brings Primark’s full womenswear, menswear, childrenswear, homewares and beauty offer into the heart of Epsom’s retail mix.
Why this matters right now
The arrival of primark epsom matters because it comes on the heels of a concerted investment in the Ashley Centre’s visitor experience. Owner CBRE Investment Management completed a substantial revamp that included upgrades to signage, wayfinding and wider aspects of the centre’s environment, and the opening of a major fashion and homeware anchor is being presented as a direct lever to convert that capital work into commercial momentum. The scale of the store — 31, 400 sq ft across two floors — and its placement beside key fashion retailers reshapes the centre’s offer and has immediate implications for footfall and tenancy dynamics.
Primark Epsom: What the new anchor brings
The store is described as a full-format Primark, offering the retailer’s core apparel categories alongside home and beauty ranges. As the Ashley Centre’s anchor, the unit occupies the space formerly held by a department store and is intended to strengthen the scheme’s appeal to a broad customer base. CBRE Investment Management frames the opening as a milestone in the destination’s evolution: the refurbishment work is explicitly linked to better wayfinding and signage, and the new anchor is presented as the commercial payoff intended to drive additional visits.
Operationally, the placement next to JD Sports and in proximity to Next, Oliver Bonas and Monsoon positions the new store within a contiguous retail cluster. That clustering effect — reinforced by a lineup of existing tenants including Deichmann, Lovisa, Boots, Pandora and M&S, and a selection of food and drink operators such as Gail’s, Costa Coffee, Pret and Starbucks — creates a more complete day-to-day offer for visitors and could lengthen dwell time in the scheme.
Expert perspectives and local ripple effects
Louisa Butters, Head of Urban Destinations UK at CBRE Investment Management, set out the strategic rationale for the letting: “Primark is one of the UK’s most recognisable high street brands, and its arrival is a significant moment for the Ashley Centre. The store has created new job opportunities for the local community, will drive additional footfall, and further strengthens the centre’s position at the heart of Epsom’s retail offer. It builds on the strong momentum generated by last year’s refurbishment and signals the start of an exciting new chapter for the destination. ”
Ewa Klepczuk, Store Manager at Primark Epsom, emphasized the local dimension: “We are so excited to finally open our doors at such a fantastic shopping destination in the heart of Epsom’s Ashley Centre. The team has worked tirelessly to get us to opening day – and now the hard work really begins! I am excited for our future in Epsom as we know there really is something for everyone here. Thank you to the entire Epsom community for the warm welcome so far and we look forward to meeting more customers in the months ahead. ”
In commercial terms, the opening has been framed as an anchor replacement strategy intended to maintain the centre’s relevance in a competitive catchment. The addition of a major high-street fashion and homeware draw complements the existing food and service provision, and the expanded offer positions the Ashley Centre to capture a broader share of visits from the town and surrounding area.
Primark’s move into this sizeable two-floor location also speaks to wider decisions by landlords to prioritise experiential clarity — visible signage, easier circulation and a curated tenant mix — after completing capital upgrades. By converting a former department store footprint into a large-format fashion and home anchor, the centre’s ownership aims to translate prior infrastructure spend into measurable retail outcomes.
Will the new anchor convert refurbishment investment into sustained increases in footfall, spend and tenancy stability across the Ashley Centre, and what measurable indicators will define success for the local community and landlords over the next year?
