Surrey Quays Shopping Centre

Remember that dolphin fountain at Surrey Quays Shopping Centre? It once graced the main concourse. Now it’s just a memory. Surrey Quays Shopping Centre opened in July 1988. It stands on land that was once Surrey Docks. Those docks were busy places. But they fell into decline. By the 1970s most shipyards had closed. The area became abandoned. Then the London Docklands Development Corporation stepped in. They transformed the area. The shopping centre became a key part of that transformation. Construction started in late 1985. It opened in 1988. New housing went up around the centre. This ensured a steady flow of customers. Many locals still call the area Surrey Docks. You can still see the old name on some road signs. The centre boasts over 40 stores. There’s a Tesco supermarket. There’s even a food court. Six hundred and fifty parking spaces are available. In 1998 a leisure park opened next door. It included an Odeon cinema and a Hollywood Bowl. Several restaurants were also there. The shopping centre itself hasn’t changed much. Tesco’s store got an extension in 2008. However the dolphin fountain vanished in the early 2000s. A new seating and sales area replaced it. Sadly the leisure park closed in September 2024. Redevelopment is underway. British Land owns the shopping centre. In 2013 they bought Tesco’s 50% stake. They planned a large extension. They also planned major refurbishment. Improved public spaces were promised. Easier access to transport and more parking were part of the plan. But plans changed. In 2019 a new town centre was approved. The shopping centre will be demolished. The new plan includes green spaces. Three thousand new homes are planned. Over 16 new streets will be created. The project will cost over 4 billion pounds. The completed site will be over 53 acres. Work is already in progress. So next time you’re here you might not recognise the place. But Surrey Quays Shopping Centre will leave its mark on the history of Rotherhithe.