Centre team prepares to mark 10th birthday celebrations

24 March 2017

Gainsborough’s award winning Marshall’s Yard shopping centre is preparing to celebrate its 10th birthday in April.

Marshall’s Yard was officially opened in April 2007 and since then has undergone many changes – attracting new businesses to the town and creating more than 600 new jobs.

The centre’s name – reflecting its heritage as the former Marshall’s factory - was chosen by Alex Stevenson who was one of hundreds of school children in the town who entered a competition to find a name for the new development.

Alex, who is now 19 and studying at university, returned to Gainsborough for a photocall at the exact spot he had his picture taken when he won the naming competition when the site was under construction.

The centre has seen many new stores and businesses open under the management of Dransfield Properties Ltd the company which developed Marshall’s Yard and still manages the busy town centre shopping destination today.

The centre welcomed a new Browns department stores in August 2012 - DW Fitness moved their gym upstairs to create units for Mountain Warehouse and Poundland and more recently Stringers Hair Salon relocated to a first floor space to allow Root – a healthy fast food concept - to open.

Marshall's Yard has seen some great expansion stories over the last decade including the fashion brand Seasalt which test piloted their offer with a pop up shop and went on to open a permanent store just before Christmas.

The independent boutique, Chic, has also expanded twice at the centre with the company's prestige clothing brands and Next expanded last year with a first floor homewares department and an in store Costa Coffee.

The leading Lincolnshire legal firm Sills & Betteridge has also expanded twice since moving to Marshalls Yard – helping to establish the centre’s success as a home for all business sectors.

There are also many stores who opened in 2007 and have seen year on year growth and are still reporting successful trade within the centre today such as M&S, New Look, Laura Ashley, Stanley Hunt Jewellers, Wilko’s and many more.

Whilst the centre is celebrating all that has been achieved since it’s opening, it is also recognising the heritage of the site and how much it means to the people of Gainsborough.

Throughout the year there will a chance for people to see old photographs of the site and also learn about its wonderful history with a pop-up heritage display which is due to launch on the centre in June.

The centre team have organised a two-day Food Festival on the 8th and 9th April to mark the 10th birthday with 30 stalls selling fresh, local produce as well as a fantastic selection of street food and live cookery demonstrations by local chefs throughout the weekend.

Live music and dance performances will also be held throughout the weekend celebrating the great local talent in the town.

Alison Hall, Centre Manager for Marshall’s Yard, said: “We want this to be a celebration for everyone that visits and supports our shops and services at Marshall’s Yard.

"As part of that we’re asking for anyone that’s celebrating a 10th birthday or anniversary to join us in the fountain area at 1pm on Saturday 8th April for a special balloon release and celebratory photo.”

Mark Dransfield, managing director of Dransfield Properties said: “This a great opportunity to reflect on what has been achieved over the last ten years at Marshall’s Yard.

"We are also looking forward to the exciting plans we have to continue the excellent partnership we have enjoyed with the town over the last decade and deliver a new hotel in Gainsborough and further improvements to the town centre. “

Pictured: Managing Director of Dransfield Properties Ltd, Mark Dransfield with Alex Stevenson who named Marshall’s Yard in 2007 and the then Mayor of Gainsborough Cllr Kenneth Wooley (who is also back in post this year) standing in the same spot at Marshall’s Yard before development and after.

For further information, contact:

Public Relations Department, Dransfield Properties Ltd
Tel: 01226 360644
Email: admin@dransfield.co.uk