Drake Circus

Name

Drake Circus

Legal name

The British Land Company PLC

Website

https://drakecircus.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Shopping Centre / Retail Property Management

NAICS

Amusement Parks and Arcades (7131)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Family Entertainment Centers & Indoor Amusement (Arcades, Trampoline Parks, Indoor Play) (THAAAAAD)

Keywords

• Retail property leasing
• Shopping centre management
• Commercial real estate
• Car parking services
• Leisure destination

Headquarters

HQ city

Plymouth

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Infrastructure, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Commercial property rental: Drake Circus generates revenue through leasing retail, restaurant, and leisure space to tenants including fashion retailers, beauty brands, restaurants, cafes, entertainment venues, and service providers. The centre extends over 560,000 sq ft and charges retailers rent based on agreed commercial terms.
2. Car park charges: Revenue from parking fees at Drake Circus car park (1,270 spaces) and The Barcode car park (400+ spaces). Tariffs range from £4 for up to 2 hours to £18 for 6-24 hours, with electric vehicle charging at 49p per KWH.
3. Digital advertising and media: Revenue from digital screen advertising placements throughout the centre through partners including Bauer Media Outdoor (Drake Circus) and Open Media (The Barcode), plus lift advertising through Limited Space.
4. Promotional activity commercialisation: Revenue from promotional activities managed through agency Mall Solutions including promotional partnerships and brand activations within the centre.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Drake Circus is a shopping centre and leisure destination in Plymouth, UK, that leases retail, restaurant, and entertainment space to over 80 retailers and 17+ food and beverage operators across 560,000 sq ft, complemented by The Barcode leisure extension. It generates revenue primarily from commercial property rental to tenants, supplemented by car park charges, EV charging, digital out-of-home advertising, and promotional commercialisation managed via agency partners.

Product overview

Drake Circus is a major retail and leisure destination in Plymouth, Devon, spanning over 560,000 sq ft as part of one of the UK's largest shopping destinations. The portfolio combines Drake Circus (primary shopping centre) with The Barcode (dining and leisure extension), offering 80+ retail stores and 17 bars, cafes, and restaurants alongside entertainment venues. Core retail brands include fashion retailers, health and beauty stores, jewellery specialists, electronics, and specialty shops. The Barcode provides leisure amenities including a Cineworld cinema with IMAX and 4DX screens, Trident Gym (24-hour fitness), Boom Battle Bar (axe throwing and shuffleboard), Paradise Island Adventure Golf, and Spinners (bowling and darts). Additional services include car parking with EV charging, The Car Wash Company, Octopus Energy kiosk, Amazon Lockers, and accessibility facilities (Shopmobility, Changing Places). Sustainability commitments include Net Zero by 2030 target, solar energy, and community biodiversity partnerships.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Drake Circus Shopping Centre Major shopping centre in Plymouth spanning over 560,000 sq ft, housing 80+ retail stores and 17+ food and beverage outlets, leased to fashion, beauty, electronics, and specialty retailers.
• The Barcode Leisure Extension

Quantifiable outcome

• Record footfall grew in 2023 and continues to expand
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers23 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Pollenize CICminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDrake Circus partnered with Pollenize CIC, a local biodiversity social enterprise, to sponsor a local community beehive. The partnership includes an interactive bee atrium installation at the centre teaching visitors about pollinators and biodiversity.
• National Literacy TrustminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDrake Circus works with the National Literacy Trust on the Young Readers Programme, celebrating 13 years of partnership. The programme helps children discover the joy of reading.
• Cancer Research UKminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDrake Circus supports Race for Life Plymouth, an event raising funds for life-saving cancer research. The centre turns its lighting pink in support and provides easy parking access to the event at The Hoe.
• Access PlymouthminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWhile Drake Circus's Shopmobility facility is temporarily closed for improvements, Access Plymouth offers alternative mobility equipment service close to the centre at Mayflower East Car Park, providing scooters and wheelchairs usable throughout the centre and wider Plymouth area.
• Mall SolutionsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAgency handling promotional activity enquiries for Drake Circus. Contact: [email protected] or 07827838271.
• Bauer Media OutdoorminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDigital screen advertising partner for Drake Circus portrait screens located throughout the centre in high footfall locations. Contact: [email protected]
• Open MediaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDigital screen advertising partner for The Barcode landscape screen (over 100m2), dominating the main shopping district. Contact: 0151 372 0217 or [email protected]
• Limited SpaceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLift advertising partner for Drake Circus. Leading shopping centre media owner offering digital and static formats throughout the UK. Contact: 020 3793 2820 or [email protected]
• Steel BrewminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSister brewery to taproom, providing fresh craft beer to the taproom venue at The Barcode. Regional brewery showcasing local craft products.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Meadowhall Shopping Centre: Major UK regional shopping centre near Sheffield with extensive retail, dining and leisure offering including cinema and family entertainment. Comparable scale and tenant mix.
• Metrocentre: One of the largest shopping centres in the UK (Gateshead/Newcastle) offering retail, dining, cinema and extensive leisure including indoor activities - highly comparable scope.
• Liverpool ONE: Mixed-use retail and leisure destination in Liverpool combining high-street retail, restaurants, cinema and entertainment venues - directly comparable to Drake Circus's integrated format.
• Bullring & Grand Central, Birmingham: Major UK city-centre shopping and leisure destination with strong fashion and dining tenant mix. Comparable destination shopping format.
• Cabot Circus: Bristol-based mixed-use shopping and leisure destination with a similar retail + dining + entertainment mix and comparable size. Closely comparable format to Drake Circus + The Barcode.
• Trinity Leeds: Mixed-use retail and leisure centre in central Leeds combining shopping, restaurants and entertainment venues. Comparable indoor destination format to Drake Circus.
• The Trafford Centre: Large UK regional shopping destination with significant leisure, dining and entertainment components. Comparable scale and experience-led format.

Broad incumbents

• Westfield UK (Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield): Global operator of flagship destination shopping centres including Westfield London and Stratford City. Comparable retail+leisure concept at larger scale.
• intu Properties (former) / Hammerson: UK REIT operating major shopping centres (e.g. Victoria Gate Leeds, Highcross Leicester, Bullring stake). Closest publicly-listed landlord comparable to British Land's retail strategy.
• Landsec (Land Securities Group): Major UK REIT operating significant retail and mixed-use destinations. Comparable landlord profile and capital allocation framework to British Land (Drake Circus's owner).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/drakecircus
• Instagraminstagram.com/drakecircus
• Xx.com/drakecircusplym

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Drake Circus