Forestside Shopping Centre

Forestside Shopping Centre is a retail and leisure destination in Newtownbreda, south Belfast, Northern Ireland. The centre occupies a roughly triangular site associated with the former Supermac supermarket complex and combines a large food anchor, department and fashion retail, smaller shop units, restaurants, services, parking and supporting facilities. It is commonly known simply as Forestside and was rebranded as Lesley Forestside after its 2023 acquisition by Mussenden Properties Limited, a company owned by local entrepreneurs Michael and Lesley Herbert. The development emerged from the arrival of Sainsbury's in Northern Ireland. On 20 June 1995, Sainsbury's announced plans to enter the Northern Ireland market and identified the Newtownbreda Supermac site as one of several possible locations. Sainsbury's subsequently acquired Supermac for £32 million. Supermac had previously considered a substantial redevelopment of its own, but the prospect of competing directly with Sainsbury's and the financial pressure associated with undertaking the project made a sale more attractive. Planning permission for a Sainsbury's store was granted in early February 1996, and construction by John Laing Group began shortly afterwards. The first phase opened in March 1997 with a 39,000-square-foot Sainsbury's supermarket. The store included an off-licence and a petrol filling station, the latter built on the site of the demolished Drumkeen Hotel. Sainsbury's reported that the store was trading well above expectations. The wider centre was completed in September 1998, bringing the total floor area to approximately 250,000 square feet. The completed scheme included 31 smaller units and larger stores for Marks & Spencer and Dunnes Stores. The site's pronounced east–west gradient allowed the architects to incorporate underground car parking and service access. Sainsbury's sold the completed centre to the Universities Superannuation Scheme for approximately £50 million through a forward-sale arrangement announced in 1997. Sainsbury's retained its supermarket through a long lease. In January 2001, the Universities Superannuation Scheme sold Forestside for £70 million to Foyleside Ltd., the owner of several Northern Irish shopping destinations including Foyleside in Derry, the Abbey Centre in Newtownabbey and the Buttercrane Centre in Newry. Forestside has experienced both investment and retail churn. Marks & Spencer announced an £8 million investment in its Forestside store as part of a wider £35 million Northern Ireland programme in 2006. The project included refurbishment, a second floor adding about 22,000 square feet and a multi-storey car park. During the 2010s, several fashion retailers left the centre, including River Island, Dorothy Perkins, Wallis and Evans, while Next expanded into the former River Island space. O2, Vision Express and Blue Inc. were among the businesses that subsequently opened. The COVID-19 period also affected the tenant mix, with businesses including Warehouse, Oasis and Clintons entering administration; Hallmark Cards acquired the Clintons unit. In September 2023, Mussenden Properties Limited acquired Forestside for £42 million. The new ownership subsequently adopted the Lesley Forestside branding. A restaurant expansion began in January 2024, creating four new units. Popeyes opened its first Northern Ireland restaurant at the centre, while other units were associated with Nando's, Greggs and Starbucks. In 2025, planning permission was granted for a terrace-style extension adding four retail units. Hotel Chocolat occupies one of the approved units, while another is planned for Søstrene Grene. Forestside therefore remains an active regional shopping destination whose offer combines grocery, fashion, home, services, food and beverage, and convenience-oriented retail.

Forestside developed from the former Supermac site at Newtownbreda. Supermac, which had opened in 1964 and was described as Northern Ireland's first supermarket, had considered redeveloping the property before Sainsbury's announced its planned entry into the Northern Ireland market in 1995. Sainsbury's purchased Supermac for £32 million and selected the site for a major store. Planning permission was granted in early February 1996, with construction undertaken by John Laing Group. The first phase, a 39,000-square-foot Sainsbury's supermarket, opened in March 1997. The store was accompanied by an off-licence and a petrol station, constructed on the site of the former Drumkeen Hotel. Sainsbury's reported that trading exceeded expectations, and its Forestside off-licence quickly became a significant participant in the Northern Irish market. Work continued on the broader shopping centre while the supermarket operated. The completed development opened in September 1998 with approximately 250,000 square feet of total floor area, 31 smaller units and larger stores occupied by Marks & Spencer and Dunnes Stores. The sloping site was used to create underground parking and service areas. In October 1997, Sainsbury's announced the forward sale of Forestside to the Universities Superannuation Scheme for about £50 million; the transaction completed after the building works were finished. Sainsbury's continued operating its supermarket under a 125-year lease. The Universities Superannuation Scheme sold the centre in January 2001 to Foyleside Ltd. for £70 million. Foyleside Ltd. was associated with a portfolio of Northern Irish shopping centres, including Foyleside in Derry, the Abbey Centre in Newtownabbey and the Buttercrane Centre in Newry. Forestside became the subject of a security incident in March 2005 when an incendiary device was used against the Next store and another device was found and defused at Dunnes Stores. The incidents formed part of a wider campaign that included an attack on a B&Q store at Sprucefield and were blamed on dissident republicans. Retail investment continued in the following years. In November 2006, Marks & Spencer announced an £8 million Forestside investment within a £35 million Northern Ireland programme. The store was remodelled, expanded with a second floor and supported by a multi-storey car park. The tenant mix later changed as River Island, Dorothy Perkins, Wallis and Evans closed during the summer of 2013. Next expanded into the former River Island premises, while O2, Vision Express and Blue Inc. became new occupants. The centre was also affected by the financial difficulties of the retail sector during the COVID-19 pandemic. Warehouse and Oasis, both associated with Aurora Fashions, and Clintons entered administration. Hallmark Cards subsequently acquired the Clintons unit. In September 2023, Mussenden Properties Limited bought Forestside for £42 million. The company is owned by Michael and Lesley Herbert, and the centre was later rebranded as Lesley Forestside. Four new restaurant units began construction in January 2024. The project included Popeyes's first Northern Ireland location, as well as spaces for Nando's, Greggs and Starbucks. In 2025, permission was granted for a terrace-style expansion comprising four additional retail units. Hotel Chocolat occupies one of those spaces, while Søstrene Grene is intended for another. The centre remains an active retail destination serving Belfast and the surrounding area.

• 2025

  Terrace expansion receives planning permission

  [1]Forestside Shopping Centreen.wikipedia.org

  Permission was granted for four additional retail units in a terrace-style extension.

• 2024

  New restaurant construction begins

  [1]Forestside Shopping Centreen.wikipedia.org

  Construction began on four restaurant units, including Northern Ireland's first Popeyes location.

• 2023

  Acquisition and rebranding

  [1]Forestside Shopping Centreen.wikipedia.org

  Mussenden Properties acquired the centre and it was subsequently associated with the Lesley Forestside name.

• 2013

  Major tenant changes

  [1]Forestside Shopping Centreen.wikipedia.org

  Several fashion retailers closed, while Next expanded and O2, Vision Express and Blue Inc. opened.

• 2006

  Marks & Spencer expansion announced

  [1]Forestside Shopping Centreen.wikipedia.org

  Marks & Spencer committed £8 million to refurbish and expand its Forestside operation.

• 2005

  Security incidents at retail units

  [1]Forestside Shopping Centreen.wikipedia.org

  Incendiary devices were used at Next and Dunnes Stores in incidents attributed to dissident republicans.

• 2001

  Centre sold to Foyleside Ltd.

  [1]Forestside Shopping Centreen.wikipedia.org

  The Universities Superannuation Scheme sold Forestside to Foyleside Ltd. for £70 million.

• 1998

  Full shopping centre opens

  [1]Forestside Shopping Centreen.wikipedia.org

  The remainder of the centre opened in September with approximately 250,000 square feet of floor space, 31 small units and major stores.

• 1997

  Sainsbury's phase opens

  [1]Forestside Shopping Centreen.wikipedia.org

  The 39,000-square-foot Sainsbury's store opened in March, marking the first phase of the project.

• 1996

  Planning approval and construction

  [1]Forestside Shopping Centreen.wikipedia.org

  Planning permission was granted and construction of the Sainsbury's phase began under John Laing Group.

• 1995

  Sainsbury's announces Northern Ireland expansion

  [1]Forestside Shopping Centreen.wikipedia.org

  Sainsbury's announced its entry into Northern Ireland and identified the Supermac Newtownbreda site as a prospective store location.

• 1964

  Supermac opens on the Newtownbreda site

  [1]Forestside Shopping Centreen.wikipedia.org

  Supermac opened on the site that later became part of Forestside's development.

A large, convenience-oriented regional shopping centre serving south Belfast and surrounding communities, anchored by grocery and major-format retail and supplemented by fashion, services, food and beverage, and leisure-oriented amenities.

• Grocery supermarket · 1997

  Sainsbury's

  Sainsbury's was the first phase and principal food anchor of Forestside. Its 39,000-square-foot supermarket opened in March 1997 and was accompanied by an off-licence and petrol station. The store operates under a long lease established when the centre was sold by Sainsbury's to institutional ownership.

• Department and fashion retail · 1998

  Marks & Spencer

  Marks & Spencer has been one of Forestside's major-format tenants since the centre opened. In 2006, it announced an £8 million investment in the store, including remodelling, a second floor adding approximately 22,000 square feet and a multi-storey car park.

• Department and grocery retail · 1998

  Dunnes Stores

  Dunnes Stores was one of the two large retailers present in the completed centre alongside Marks & Spencer. Its Forestside premises combine the department-store and grocery-oriented format associated with the chain.

• Restaurants and food service · 2024

  Food and restaurant expansion

  The centre's later development has expanded its food-and-beverage offer. Four restaurant units began construction in 2024, with Popeyes, Nando's, Greggs and Starbucks identified in the development plans. The scheme broadens Forestside beyond traditional shopping and increases its role as a food and convenience destination.

• 2005

  Incendiary-device attacks

  An incendiary device ignited at the Next store on 26 March 2005, after the shop had closed. Another device was defused at Dunnes Stores on 28 March. The incidents were linked in reporting to a wider dissident-republican campaign that also included an attack on a B&Q store at Sprucefield.

  Source

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• 2024

  Restaurant-led expansionProduct launch

  Background

  The new owner sought to broaden Forestside's offer beyond conventional retail and increase its food-and-beverage capacity.

  Action taken

  Construction began on four restaurant units associated with Popeyes, Nando's, Greggs and Starbucks.

  Aftermath

  The development included Popeyes's first restaurant in Northern Ireland and strengthened Forestside's role as a mixed shopping and dining destination.

  Source

• 2023

  Acquisition by Mussenden PropertiesM&A

  Background

  Forestside changed ownership after more than two decades of institutional and property-company ownership.

  Action taken

  Mussenden Properties Limited acquired the shopping centre and subsequently introduced the Lesley Forestside branding.

  Aftermath

  The new ownership initiated further investment, including restaurant development and a later approved retail extension.

  Acquisition price. £42 million (September 2023)

  Source

• 2006

  Marks & Spencer store expansionStrategy

  Background

  Marks & Spencer announced a wider investment programme for its Northern Ireland business.

  Action taken

  The company allocated £8 million to the Forestside store for remodelling, a second floor and associated parking improvements.

  Aftermath

  The investment increased the scale and capacity of one of the centre's principal anchor stores.

  Forestside investment. £8 million (2006)

  Source

• 1997

  Forward sale to the Universities Superannuation SchemeM&A

  Background

  Sainsbury's developed the centre but arranged an institutional ownership structure while retaining its supermarket operation.

  Action taken

  Sainsbury's announced the forward sale of Forestside to the Universities Superannuation Scheme, completed after construction.

  Aftermath

  Sainsbury's retained its store through a 125-year lease, while ownership of the wider centre transferred to the pension scheme.

  Forward-sale value. Approximately £50 million (1997)

  Source

• 1995

  Sainsbury's enters the Northern Ireland marketStrategy

  Background

  Sainsbury's sought locations for its first Northern Ireland stores while Supermac faced the financial and competitive implications of redeveloping its Newtownbreda site.

  Action taken

  Sainsbury's purchased Supermac and proceeded with a new supermarket-led development at Newtownbreda.

  Aftermath

  The decision created the anchor for what became Forestside Shopping Centre and helped establish Sainsbury's initial Northern Ireland presence.

  Acquisition price. £32 million (1995)

  Source

1. 1Forestside Shopping Centreen.wikipedia.org