Drake Circus - 2023 in review: 10 new brand openings under year of community focused events

Plymouth’s premier shopping destination, Drake Circus and The Barcode, is riding high after a successful 2023 saw ten new brands open across its portfolio, and a multitude of community events and initiatives throughout the year.

New store openings included popular jewellery, fashion and homeware brand Oliver Bonas which launched its first store within the city at the centre ahead of Christmas, as well as much-loved fashion brands Levi’s, Seasalt and Quiz.

Luxury cosmetics retailer Rituals and gifting and stationary chain Mooch also opened their doors to shoppers, whilst popular entertainment venue Spinners launched within The Barcode. It was also a successful year for food and drink openings, with desert specialists Kaspas and fried chicken experts Slim Chickens joining the scheme, while cocktail innovators Bar Koda opened on Old Town Street.

Greg Lumley, centre director at Drake Circus and The Barcode, said: “It’s been another brilliant year for us at Drake Circus. The brands we’ve welcomed across the estate and, in some cases, to Plymouth itself all offer something unique and each one has proved extremely popular with our shoppers.

“There’s already much excitement around Mango and Franco Manca opening here later this year, and we look forward to announcing even more new brands to come.”

2023 also saw a series of events and initiatives take place in celebration of Plymouth’s thriving local community. In August, Drake Circus partnered with Plymouth Pride to become a Local Community Champion, turning the centre rainbow coloured with an exterior artwork, hosting crafting workshops with local artist Freya Moses, and offering additional inclusivity training and resources for employees.

The centre collected over 100kg of pre-loved school uniform items for families in need as part of an initiative with Uniform Store Plymouth, welcomed back the Young Readers Programme with 200 children taking part from local schools, and supported the launch of a unique Art Vending Machine together with Plymouth Culture which raised £900 for creators in the community.

Greg continued: “We’re very proud of the work we’ve done in partnership with the local community and the generosity of our shoppers to support local families, schools and community groups in 2023. We will look to build on these partnerships throughout this year to continue to support even more great causes across Plymouth and the wider region.”

Plan your visit to Drake Circus and The Barcode by visiting: https://www.drakecircus.com/