Imagine stepping back in time. The spot where St George’s Shopping Centre stands today once housed Adams Furnishers. Adams itself replaced the short-lived Harrow Empire and Picturedrome.
Today St George’s Shopping Centre offers a modern contrast to Harrow’s Georgian architecture. But step inside St George’s. A sweeping semi-spiral staircase echoes the town’s history. Intricately designed railings complement the Georgian feel.
St George’s Shopping Centre opened its doors on St George’s Day in 1996. It was then known as St George’s Shopping and Leisure Centre. The opening introduced new stores. These included a Virgin Megastore a Disney Store and a McDonald’s. The McDonald’s still serves customers today.
The centre also boasted a 12-screen cinema. It operated under Warner Village Cinemas. Since 2004 Vue has been managing it.
St George’s Shopping Centre has changed hands over the years. Propinvest once owned it. Redefine International bought the centre in 2011 for £68 million.
Located on St Anns Road St George’s Shopping Centre is near the St Anns Centre but separate. The shopping centre is not just about retail. It combines shopping with leisure. You will find a 12-screen cinema a gymnasium cafes and restaurants here. Parking is ample with 650 spaces making it an all-day attraction.
As of 2015 St George’s Shopping Centre featured 30 units. These units cater to retail leisure and restaurant needs across three floors. Among them are TK Maxx Boots Nando’s Vue and Fitness First.
St George’s Shopping Centre attracts many visitors. Annually it welcomes around 8.9 million people. TK Maxx and the Vue cinema serve as anchor tenants.
The washrooms at St George’s Shopping Centre are designed creatively. They cater to a diverse range of customers. Dolphin Solutions collaborated with Interfix Washrooms to create bright clean and friendly environments.
Entrances to parent and child washrooms feature fun colourful designs. This creates a welcoming atmosphere for young children. The washrooms use Dolphin Alavo systems. These include Superloo Double wash stations Triple wash stations and Five wash stations.
ALAVO’s design is excellent for high-traffic areas. It keeps all hand wash and drying accessories in one place. Touch-free products minimize germ spread. Intuitive symbols on the mirrors guide users.
The Superloo design features an Alavo unit inside a large cubicle. Users can access the WC wash and dry their hands all within the cubicle. This design benefits those with shy bladder syndrome. It is also helpful for parents with small children of the opposite sex.
Plain white backgrounds allow the blue panel lighting around the Alavo units to shine. This creates a pleasant washroom experience.
St George’s Shopping Centre stands as a testament to Harrow’s blend of history and modernity. From its roots as a cinema and furniture store to its current form St George’s continues to evolve. It meets the needs of shoppers and leisure seekers alike.