Major cities centres are facing a step change in how they look and feel. Consumer needs are shifting and as a result the high street we once knew is going through a period of significant change, with some interesting operators beginning to pop up where once traditional retailers stood.

For example, until recently there wasn't much to entice people into the centre of Glasgow beyond shopping, eating and drinking. However, 2020 will see the opening of VUE’s stunning new cinema at the St Enoch Centre, which will offer fully electric reclining seats to enhance the customer experience. As well as going to the movies, the new phenomenon that is proving extremely popular in cities across the UK will also be coming to Glasgow, as a new breed of competitive socialising operators offers customers the chance to socialise and have fun with an emphasis on playing games.

Part of this is a response to changing habits: compared with yesteryear, the millennial generation shuns drinking. So it’s no coincidence that we are seeing a change in our city centres as they provide interesting 'things to do', while at the same time offering good food and a family friendly lively atmosphere.

Escape rooms are one example and in Glasgow there are now six established operators, including Escape Reality and Locked in Escape Room. It is, however, the next wave of concepts which sound the most interesting.

Bowlarama is opening a new late night, boutique bowling centre on Glassford Street in the autumn and Flight Club is close to securing a site for its take on 'social darts', which is all about having a cocktail and a bite to eat while enjoying a game of darts with a fully electronic system to avoid the dreaded score keeping.

Discovery Adventure Golf is honing in on a new 25,000 sq ft base in Glasgow and is expected to open in 2020. Meanwhile, market leader Social Entertainment Ventures has plans to bring Puttshack, a highly evolved take on indoor crazy golf aimed squarely at a sophisticated, adult customer, to the city. It is also in the early stages of expanding a new city centre bingo concept called HiJingo, with Glasgow in their sights for a future opening.

Taking traditional formats and revolutionising them for our city centres is a simple yet ingenious plan and as a major UK destination we expect to see a lot more these emerging concepts open in Glasgow.

Whistle Punks, the leading national operator of axe throwing has expanded rapidly across the UK with sites in Manchester, London, Birmingham and Bristol. With its popularity rising, it won’t be long before it enters the Scottish market too. 

The opportunity, and challenge, for the property market is to provide the type of space these new occupiers require. Large space is the order of the day, and between 10 and 25,000 sq ft on upper or basement floors is likely to be the most sought after.

With consumers heading back into the town centre to enjoy these new activities, we anticipate a positive ripple effect on the retail environment too.

Further information

Listen to the podcast: Competitive socialising and emerging concepts in leisure