Bullring is celebrating its 20th birthday since its grand opening on September 4, 2003. Over the past 20 years, Bullring has played a significant role in Birmingham’s economic growth in both supporting employment and attracting visitors.
The celebratory milestone comes amid a transformative year for Bullring and Grand Central as Hammerson continues to enliven the destination by introducing new concepts, leading brands and partnerships, and diversifying its occupiers and attracting and engaging with new audiences.
New entertainment and leisure brands due to open later this year include Sandbox VR, Lane7 and TOCA Social, alongside high-profile retailers including M&S, Bershka, Pull&Bear and Watches of Switzerland.
Hammerson has also created new reasons for customers to visit, driving footfall and stronger levels of engagement across the destination. Recent highlights include Late Night Out, which saw Bullring transformed into a late-night venue. A new Club Paradiso, an Ibiza themed summer pop-up bar and the return of the B Side Hip Hop Festival and Birmingham Weekender.
As part of the vision to create a multi-purpose destination, there are plans to reimagine a former 200,000sq ft of retail space to create ‘Drum’ a new amenity-rich, wellbeing designed office space complementing the existing food and social hub in Grand Central and the retail and entertainment brands Bullring has to offer.
Showcasing the asset entrance, unveiled in 2003 stands the renowned Bullring Bull. Known locally as ‘The Guardian’ it has not only become an emblem of Birmingham, but also formed the basis of ‘Perry’ the mascot for Birmingham’s 2022 Commonwealth Games. The Bull was also named as one of the top 10 pieces of public art worldwide, alongside the Statue of Liberty in New York and David in Italy, showcasing the destination’s enduring influence on the global cultural landscape.
Toby Tait, director asset management, Hammerson said: “This milestone is a testament to the incredible journey Bullring embarked on two decades ago. As we celebrate the 20th birthday, we remain committed to continually evolving the destination and pushing the boundaries to provide our valued visitors an unforgettable experience. With an exciting selection of upcoming occupiers, brand partners along with our continued efforts to innovate, we are poised to shape the next chapter of Bullring’s legacy.”
