Harlequin Shopping Centre
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| The Harlequin Centre | |
 Entrance to The Harlequin |
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| Facts and statistics | |
|---|---|
| Location | Watford, UK |
| Opening date | June 1992 |
| Developer | Capital Shopping Centres |
| Management | Michael Stevens |
| Owner | Capital Shopping Centres |
| Architect | Chapman Taylor Partners |
| No. of stores and services | Over 145 |
| Total retail floor area | 67,500 sq m |
| Parking | 2050 + 3000 in Watford |
| No. of floors | 7 (inc. Parking) |
| Website | http://www.theharlequin.uk.com |
The Harlequin Centre in Watford is the biggest shopping centre in Hertfordshire, England. It is run by Capital Shopping Centres and is visited by over 17 million customers each year. It opened officially in 1992.
It was built as a rival to Brent Cross. It is in the centre of the town and includes John Lewis, bhs, Marks & Spencer, Zara, Next and most other high street names. The centre is integrated with the town, and as part of its development, listed high street buildings were preserved and brought back into use and Queen’s Road was maintained as a cross route through the town.
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[edit] Design
In the Harlequin Centre the Malls are symmetrical with clean curves. It is bright and cool and has ornaments on the walls and plants near the roof. On the third floor there is an area used for exhibitions of local art. The glass roofs fill the Centre with light without need for artificial lighting.
[edit] History
The 1962 estimate was £3,000,000 to include a ten-pin bowling alley and 130 flats. It was £130,000,000 when the plans were presented in 1986. To clear the way for Harlequin, the Sainsbury’s store in Queens Road needed re-siting; the Odeon cinema in the High Street was bought and demolished (1983), space at its rear being needed for the store’s warehouse. By 1992 a sub-regional shopping centre, The Harlequin Centre, caused most of the local high street shops to go out of business.
Councillors wanted a swimming element in the complex ‘to retain life in the evenings’ but the developers decided that swimming and shopping would not mix. The Council settled for building Watford Springs, a swimming/leisure centre built on the old Benskin’s Brewery site in the High Street. It lasted eleven years and was knocked down, costing around £12,000,000 total.
Talks with the council to regenerate the neighbouring Charter Place site are moving forward swiftly after a planning brief was published.[1]
[edit] Transport
[edit] Rail
The centre is 10 minutes from Watford Junction and a couple of minutes from Watford High Street station.
[edit] Bus
There are many bus stops in the town centre which serve the Harlequin Centre.
[edit] Road
Watford Ring Road circles the shopping centre providing access for cars to the car parks.
[edit] Bike
There are many cycle paths in Watford, and some go through the town. There are bike sheds in the town centre.
