Fairhill Centre

Fairhill Centre, also known as Fairhill Shopping Centre, is a retail and leisure complex in Ballymena, County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It opened in 1991 and was originally anchored by Co-op and Marks & Spencer. Over time, its tenant mix changed substantially as department stores, fashion retailers and food-service operators occupied or redeveloped units within the scheme. The centre has more than 30 stores, a food court and parking for more than 1,100 vehicles in a multi-storey car park, making it a significant retail destination for Ballymena and the surrounding area. The centre’s early identity was shaped by established department-store and general-merchandise anchors. Marks & Spencer expanded its presence after opening, while Co-op remained an important tenant until closing its store in 2002. The former Co-op space was subsequently occupied by BHS and a subsidiary of the Arcadia Group. In 2007, Debenhams opened its first Desire fashion store at Fairhill, and the upper level was converted into a food court during the same year. These changes reflected the centre’s continuing adaptation to changing retail formats and customer expectations. A further redevelopment took place in 2009 after BHS announced that it would leave the centre. The former BHS unit was reworked for Next and New Look, both of which opened there that year. This reinforced Fairhill’s role as a fashion-oriented shopping destination while retaining larger-format retail space. Debenhams later closed its Fairhill store in 2021, following the wider collapse and closure of the Debenhams store estate in the United Kingdom. Also in 2021, property groups Magell and Melcorpo Group acquired Fairhill from Patrizia SE. In 2023, plans were confirmed for Primark to open a store at the centre. The project involved demolishing part of the existing complex, including space associated with former Debenhams and other retailers, and slightly reducing the overall store footprint while removing one entrance. Primark’s new store was reported as opening on 5 December 2025 after relocating from the nearby Tower Centre. In February 2025, a £10 million refurbishment was announced in preparation for the Primark development. The proposed work included a more contemporary design, removal of the centre’s former high-street-themed interior treatment, a rebrand and the introduction of additional stores. Fairhill’s current and planned offer includes major fashion and department-store names such as Primark, Next, New Look and Marks & Spencer, alongside food and other retail services. Its trading hours are generally 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. from Monday to Wednesday and on Saturday, with later opening until 9:00 p.m. on Thursday and Friday.

Fairhill Shopping Centre opened in Ballymena in 1991 as a purpose-built retail destination anchored by Co-op and Marks & Spencer. The centre developed as an important part of the town’s commercial infrastructure, offering a concentrated selection of department-store, fashion and general-retail businesses with supporting parking and food services. Marks & Spencer later expanded its store, strengthening the centre’s position among Northern Ireland’s established town-centre shopping schemes. The tenant structure changed in the early 2000s. Co-op closed its Fairhill store in 2002, after which BHS and a subsidiary of the Arcadia Group occupied the former space. In 2007, Debenhams introduced its first Desire fashion store at the centre. That year also saw the creation of an upstairs food court, broadening Fairhill’s role beyond straightforward retail and giving shoppers an additional dining facility. Further redevelopment followed the departure of BHS. In 2009, the former landlords, Corbo Ltd, confirmed that the BHS unit would be closed and redeveloped. The space was subsequently taken by Next and New Look, both of which opened stores at Fairhill in the same year. This change replaced an outgoing department-store format with two prominent fashion operators and helped maintain the centre’s appeal as the retail market evolved. Debenhams closed its store in 2021. The closure occurred during the broader failure of Debenhams in the United Kingdom and represented the loss of one of Fairhill’s larger former retail attractions. In the same year, Magell and Melcorpo Group acquired the centre from Patrizia SE, bringing a change in ownership as the property sector and shopping-centre operators responded to structural changes in physical retail. The next major stage in Fairhill’s development was the planned arrival of Primark. In 2023, it was confirmed that Primark would establish a store at the centre, relocating from the nearby Tower Centre. The scheme required the demolition of part of Fairhill, including space associated with the former Debenhams unit and other retailers. The resulting centre was planned to be slightly smaller, with one entrance removed, but with a major new anchor intended to increase visitor traffic. In February 2025, a £10 million refurbishment was announced. The plans were described as a modernisation of the centre, including replacement of the previous high-street-themed interior, a rebrand and additional stores. The Primark store was reported as opening on 5 December 2025. Fairhill therefore continued to evolve through anchor replacement, physical redevelopment and changes to its visual identity, while retaining its core function as a shopping and food destination for Ballymena and the wider area. The centre has more than 30 stores, a food court and parking for more than 1,100 cars in a multi-storey car park. Rail access is available through Ballymena station.

• 2025

  Refurbishment and Primark opening

  [1]Fairhill Shopping Centreen.wikipedia.org

  A £10 million refurbishment is announced, and Primark is reported as opening on 5 December after relocating from the Tower Centre.

• 2023

  Primark plans confirmed

  [1]Fairhill Shopping Centreen.wikipedia.org

  Plans are confirmed for a Primark store, requiring partial demolition and changes to the centre's layout.

• 2021

  Ownership changes and Debenhams closes

  [1]Fairhill Shopping Centreen.wikipedia.org

  Magell and Melcorpo Group acquire the centre from Patrizia SE, while Debenhams closes its store.

• 2009

  Next and New Look replace the former BHS space

  [1]Fairhill Shopping Centreen.wikipedia.org

  Following BHS's departure and redevelopment of its unit, Next and New Look open stores at the centre.

• 2007

  Debenhams Desire and food court introduced

  [1]Fairhill Shopping Centreen.wikipedia.org

  Debenhams opens its first Desire fashion store at Fairhill, while the upper level becomes a food court.

• 2002

  Co-op closes its store

  [1]Fairhill Shopping Centreen.wikipedia.org

  Co-op leaves the centre, creating space for subsequent redevelopment and new occupants.

• 1991

  Fairhill Shopping Centre opens

  [1]Fairhill Shopping Centreen.wikipedia.org

  The centre opens in Ballymena with Co-op and Marks & Spencer among its anchor tenants.

A major local and regional shopping destination serving Ballymena and surrounding communities, combining high-street fashion, department-store retail, food service and convenient car parking.

• Fashion retail · 2025

  Primark

  Primark is a major fashion anchor planned for and subsequently reported as operating at Fairhill after relocating from Ballymena's nearby Tower Centre. Its arrival formed the centrepiece of a wider redevelopment involving partial demolition, a revised layout and a major refurbishment.

• Fashion and home retail · 2009

  Next

  Next occupies space redeveloped after BHS left Fairhill. The store forms part of the centre's established fashion offer and has been present since the 2009 redevelopment of the former BHS unit.

• Fashion retail · 2009

  New Look

  New Look opened at Fairhill in 2009 in the redevelopment that followed BHS's departure. It contributes a high-street fashion proposition to the centre's tenant mix.

• Department-store retail · 1991

  Marks & Spencer

  Marks & Spencer was one of Fairhill's original anchor tenants and later expanded its store. It remains identified among the centre's principal retail names.

• Food service · 2007

  Food court

  The upstairs area of Fairhill was converted into a food court in 2007, adding a dedicated dining and refreshment component to the shopping-centre experience.

• 2025

  £10 million centre refurbishmentStrategy

  Background

  The refurbishment was planned alongside the Primark development and a broader effort to modernise Fairhill's appearance and tenant proposition.

  Action taken

  A £10 million revamp was announced, including a more contemporary design, removal of the former high-street-themed interior, a rebrand and new stores.

  Aftermath

  The project was intended to create a more modern shopping environment and support the centre's repositioning around its new anchor tenant.

  Refurbishment investment. £10 million announced investment (2025)

  Source

• 2023

  Primark anchor developmentGeneration change

  Background

  The centre sought to replace and reconfigure space affected by the departure of Debenhams and other retailers while attracting a major fashion anchor.

  Action taken

  Plans were confirmed for a Primark store, requiring demolition of part of the centre, a slightly smaller store footprint and the removal of one entrance.

  Aftermath

  Primark was reported as opening on 5 December 2025 after relocating from the nearby Tower Centre.

  Source

• 2021

  Acquisition by Magell and Melcorpo GroupM&A

  Background

  Fairhill changed ownership during a period of substantial change in physical retail and shopping-centre property markets.

  Action taken

  Magell and Melcorpo Group acquired the centre from Patrizia SE.

  Aftermath

  The acquisition placed Fairhill under new property ownership as the centre subsequently pursued a major redevelopment and anchor strategy.

  Source

• 2009

  Redevelopment of the former BHS unitStrategy

  Background

  BHS was scheduled to leave the centre, creating a need to reuse and reposition a substantial retail unit.

  Action taken

  The unit was redeveloped and handed over to Next and New Look, both of which opened stores in 2009.

  Aftermath

  The change replaced BHS with two fashion-focused tenants and maintained a strong apparel presence at Fairhill.

  Source

1. 1Fairhill Shopping Centreen.wikipedia.org