Eagerly anticipated opening of Frasers is 'best Christmas gift' for Peterborough

Frasers with its popular brands Flannels and Sports Direct, has announced that it will open in the Queensgate Shopping Centre on December 13.

The news comes more than a year after it was first revealed that Frasers had agreed terms with Invesco, the owner of Queensgate, to move into the space across three floors left behind by the closure of department store John Lewis in 2021.

Peterborough MP Andrew Pakes said: “It is welcome news that Frasers will be opening in the run up to Christmas.

"This adds another attraction to Queensgate alongside the recent opening of HMV.

He said: "We have a lot going on for us as a city and it is great to see the hard work paying off for the city centre.

"We still have more work to do but with a growing market, the start of the Station Quarter, new swimming pool funding and the excellent work of Peterborough Positive we are turning a corner.

Mr Pakes added: “This is a good Christmas gift for everyone who wants to see Peterborough on the up.”

Dr Cheryl Greyson, senior business lecturer at ARU Peterborough, said: “This is the best Christmas present Peterborough and particularly the Queensgate shopping centre could hope to have.

"The presence of Frasers as a new anchor store to replace John Lewis and M&S will make a huge difference in how shoppers circulate around the centre, and I hope that the Queensgate Management Team are able to keep the escalators outside the new store in excellent working condition now.

"This should draw more pedestrians in to walk around the lower floor so they can enjoy all the stores including new retailers attracted by the presence of a new high end department store as well as our wonderful independent retailers.

Dr Greyson added: “My research has shown that when shoppers can 'spend a penny' using good quality public toilets in-store, they will spend more money and shop for longer.

"I'm sure many shoppers have really missed the toilets in John Lewis and M&S and will be glad to have a more convenient option at hand.

"These improvements have been a long time coming so it's now up to us to support all of the retailers, leisure facilities and eateries.”

Pep Cipriano, chief operating officer for Peterborough Positive, which operates the city’s Business Improvement District, said: “This is really the icing on Peterborough’s Christmas cake.

"It is the best Christmas gift that Peterborough could receive.

“Opening before Christmas will give shoppers the chance to buy some fantastic gifts for their loved ones.

He said: “It comes as work on the Station Quarter gets under way, there is £1.5 million pledged for the city centre, new shops such as HMV and Miniso have just opened in the Queensgate and the BID is organising murals, trails and events in the city.

"Frasers will be part of a much more vibrant city centre, which is something we all want to see.

"I hope it will help Peterborians fall back in love with their city.”