Arc Shopping Centre

What Arc Shopping Centre does

Arc Shopping Centre is a privately-held, single-site regional shopping centre located in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, United Kingdom, opened in March 2009. The centre operates an open street-scape format with over 35 retail and dining tenancies alongside two leisure anchors: a three-screen Everyman Cinema and The Apex, a live entertainment and theatre venue. The tenant mix spans high-street fashion (Primark, H&M, Next, New Look, River Island, Superdry, Joules, Hobbs, FatFace, Crew Clothing, Phase Eight), accessories and lifestyle (Accessorize, Pandora, Oliver Bonas, Smiggle, LEGO, Cards Direct, Waterstones, Starlings Toys, The Perfume Shop), mobile and electronics (Vodafone, JD, Blacks), and a broad dining offer (Nando's, Wagamama, Byron, Burger King, Slim Chickens, Costa Coffee, Muffin Break, Hotel Chocolat, L'Occitane, Rituals, Juice Bros). A Click & Collect service is currently available across 28 tenant brands.

The business model is a commercial property landlord operation: the centre leases space to tenants and earns recurring rental income, with no direct consumer charges. Customer segments are local residents and visitors to Bury St Edmunds, families, and tourists. Ancillary services include customer facilities (Platinum Plus-rated washrooms), accessibility provisions (Shopmobility, Space to Change), a dog-friendly scheme launched in 2018 in partnership with Dog Friendly Bury St Edmunds, and a community events programme delivered in collaboration with the Bury St Edmunds Business Improvement District.

The underlying technology is conventional physical retail infrastructure supplemented by a digital marketing presence: Facebook, Instagram, email newsletter, and a website managed by Toolbox Marketing. There is no mobile application, no AI/ML capability, and no disclosed proprietary technology. Commercialisation is handled through dual letting agents JLL and Brasier Freeth. The centre is GDPR-compliant and governed by English law. Ownership is private with no identified parent company, private equity, or venture capital backing in the source material.

Name

Arc Shopping Centre

Legal name

arc Shopping Centre

Website

https://arc-burystedmunds.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Arc Shopping Centre is a privately-held regional shopping centre in Bury St Edmunds, UK, opened 2009, housing 35+ retail and dining tenants plus Everyman Cinema and The Apex theatre. It operates as a landlord earning recurring rental income from enterprise tenants across fashion, dining, and leisure, serving local residents and visitors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Bury Saint Edmunds

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Retail Rental Income: Arc Shopping Centre generates revenue by leasing retail space to various tenants including fashion retailers, restaurants, cafes, leisure operators, and entertainment venues. The centre acts as landlord and property manager for over 35 shops and restaurants plus leisure facilities.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Arc Shopping Centre is a physical retail destination in Bury St Edmunds, UK, that operates as a landlord and property manager, leasing commercial space to over 35 retail, dining, and leisure tenants. The centre also houses the Everyman Cinema and The Apex theatre as on-site leisure operators, and offers consumer-facing services such as Click & Collect from 28 brands, customer facilities, and community events.

Product overview

Arc Shopping Centre is a unified retail destination offering a combination of physical shopping, dining, and leisure experiences. The core offering is the shopping centre itself (opened March 2009), complemented by two key entertainment venues: The Apex (award-winning music/events venue) and Everyman Cinema (state-of-the-art cinema with three screens). Additional services include Click & Collect (available from 28 brands), customer facilities (Platinum Plus rated toilets, family changing facilities), accessibility features (adjustable changing tables, hoist, Shopmobility), and a dog-friendly scheme. The centre serves as the hub connecting retail tenants with visitors through both physical presence and digital services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Arc Shopping Centre A retail shopping centre in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk featuring over 35 shops and restaurants, a cinema, and theatre facilities. Leases commercial space to fashion retailers, restaurants, cafes, leisure operators, and entertainment venues, and serves as a community-focused retail destination for local residents and visitors.
• Click & Collect

Named customers36 records

Segments1 record

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 core and minor.

• JLLcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCommercial property agent handling retail lettings for arc Shopping Centre. Contact: Steve Morgan - [email protected]
• Brasier FreethcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCommercial property agent handling retail lettings for arc Shopping Centre. Contact: Damian Summer - [email protected]
• Positive Media MarketingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership for washroom poster advertising in captive high-dwell areas of the centre
• Bury St Edmunds BIDcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBusiness Improvement District partnership for community events including Spring Fayre, and joint marketing initiatives
• The Crafty FoxesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorkshop provider for children's craft activities at The Apex venue
• Toolbox MarketingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMarketing agency managing arc Shopping Centre's website and digital presence
• West Suffolk CouncilminorOthersCar park ownership and management for Cattle Market/Arc Car Park. Also provides Shopmobility scheme for accessibility.
• Information Commissioner's OfficeminorOthersRegulatory body for data protection complaints handling
• Dog Friendly Bury St EdmundsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInitiative launched in 2018 to make the town dog-friendly, with many arc stores now participating in the scheme

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• British Land: UK REIT with a substantial retail portfolio including Meadowhall (Sheffield). Comparable to Arc as a UK shopping-centre operator with similar tenant profiles (Primark, H&M, Next and other high-street fashion occupiers).
• Landsec / Land Securities: Major UK REIT that owns and operates shopping centres including St David's (Cardiff) and Liverpool ONE. Directly comparable as a UK shopping-centre operator with a focus on prime retail destinations and leisure tenants.
• NewRiver REIT: UK retail REIT focused on value and convenience shopping centres with a similar tenant base. Comparable as a UK retail-property landlord operating regional and town-centre schemes.
• Meadowhall (Sheffield): Major UK regional shopping centre anchored by Primark, H&M, Next and other retailers that also feature at Arc. Operated by a British Land/NatWest joint venture. Directly comparable tenant mix and shopping-centre operating model.
• Cribbs Causeway (Bristol): South West England regional shopping centre featuring Primark, H&M, Next and a cinema — a tenant profile and operational format very similar to Arc.
• Cabot Circus (Bristol): Bristol-based regional shopping centre owned by Hammerson, featuring fashion anchors and dining operators similar to Arc. Comparable size, format and tenant mix as a UK shopping destination.
• Hammerson plc: UK and Europe-focused REIT operating prime shopping destinations including Cabot Circus (Bristol), Victoria Centre (Nottingham), and Brent Cross. Comparable to Arc as a UK shopping-centre landlord reliant on rental income from fashion and F&B tenants.
• Victoria Centre (Nottingham): Major Nottingham shopping centre operated by Hammerson, anchored by high-street fashion brands similar to those at Arc. Directly comparable as a UK mid-sized regional shopping centre.
• Buchanan Galleries (Glasgow): Glasgow regional shopping centre with a comparable fashion-led tenant mix and city-centre positioning. Directly comparable UK shopping destination in a similar mid-sized urban catchement.

Broad incumbents

• Capital & Counties Properties (Capco): UK REIT focused on the Covent Garden estate. Less directly comparable but a relevant UK retail and leisure property landlord with experience-led positioning comparable to Arc's cinema and theatre mix.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/arcbury
• Instagraminstagram.com/arcshoppingcentre
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/arc-shopping-centre

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 Arc Shopping Centre