Regent Arcade -Cheltenham

The Regent Arcade is the largest shopping centre in Cheltenham, the arcade has over 70 stores on two floors which I appreciate by today's standard of shopping centre is nothing to brag about; but bare in mind this is a town centre shopping arcade not an out of town one. The shopping centre was opened in the mid 1980's having taken just under 2 years to complete. What's nice about the Regent Arcade is that rather like the shopping centre in Milton ...
...lot of shopping centres the Regent Arcade continues to be popular with retailers with only 5 empty units two of which are currently in the final stages of lease negotiation.

Before I go onto the contents of the centre its worth pointing out the main attraction The Fishing Wishing Clock, this "legendary" clock is the only one of its type in the world. The clock is suspended from the ceiling and its entire structure is over ... more

The Regent Arcade is the largest shopping centre in Cheltenham, the arcade has over 70 stores on two floors which I appreciate by today's standard of shopping centre is nothing to brag about; but bare in mind this is a town centre shopping arcade not an out of town one. The shopping centre was opened in the mid 1980's having taken just under 2 years to complete. What's nice about the Regent Arcade is that rather like the shopping centre in Milton Keynes visually from the interior the building is covered in marble and stainless steel, as a result the centre has remained ageless compared to other shopping centres built in other turns around the same time. Another nice touch is that unlike a lot of shopping centres the Regent Arcade continues to be popular with retailers with only 5 empty units two of which are currently in the final stages of lease negotiation.

Before I go onto the contents of the centre its worth pointing out the main attraction The Fishing Wishing Clock, this "legendary" clock is the only one of its type in the world. The clock is suspended from the ceiling and its entire structure is over 20 feet in height. The clock which is regularly maintained runs on a perpetual motion system; this is kept motivated by a continued shifting of weight caused by balls that drop into the clock, the force of the ball falling into the clock is enough to not only power the clock but to winch the previous ball out the other side to be used again. Every thirty minutes the clock chimes to the sound of "I'm forever blowing bubbles" for the duration of the tune bubbles are disbursed from a fishes mouth which hangs below the clock. Interesting enough as this might sound there is more to it, as the turn plays one of four doors on each corner of the clock face opens at 15 second duration's. From within the doors pops out a little white mouse, trying to escape from something that cannot be seen initially. On the forth attempt to make an escape a giant snake pops up to try and grab the mouse, but it quickly nips back in the clock closing the door. One one day a year which is at 12pm on Christmas Eve the mouse actually manages to escape and flies off into the sky. The centre plate of the clock is a homage to the cat and the fiddle nursery rhyme which revolves on the half hour too.
It's great to see loads of kids gather underneath the clock to try and catch bubbles as well as make wishes, which was the initial purpose of the clock.
The clock's tune is often complained about, but I think it's lovely to find something like this still active in this day and age, as a result I have got used to the sound.

The shopping is somewhat varied but for a man is a bit lacking, I yesterday had a discussion with a couple of male friends who both agreed that really except for a large techno gadget style purchase there is nothing in the centre to help men to shop, not for themselves anyway.

Ground Floor

As you enter the centre from the high street you can continue along the ground floor or use the escalator to get to Butlers café or Just Toys.

Butlers Café has been here as long as the centre and has been on a downward spiral ever since, when Butlers first opened it was a popular café offering pretty good food at affordable prices. Now however it offers barely warm pap. Worse still order a drink and you'll get it in a paper cup.

Just Toys has been a popular and consistent toy shop in the town. However the only way of accessing the toyshop is by awkward stairs or the escalator, hardly family friendly.

Back downstairs and you have following:-

Wallis

Kew

The Link - The most unprofessional store I have encountered in the company, the stores are managed by people resembling apes and you can be guaranteed that at least once a week the store does not open till midday due to "staffing issues".

River Island - Great fashion for women, the men's section is just a postage stamp though.

Anne Summers - For the Chav in you, well that's the impression this branch of the ladies lingerie retailer gives you.

Claire's Accessories

Mistrel - Bon Marche style fashions at Monsoon prices

Tchibo - This funky store sells completely different lines each week, the only thing that does not change is the coffee, yes you can by a nice hot drink here for a reasonable price.

Chapman's Opticians

Sportizus - Signed framed photographs and gold/platinum framed albums.

Clinton Cards

Regis Hairsylists

Gilesports - This sports brand have been advertising that they are closing down in the window for just over a year, but they are still here and still get massive deliveries of stock.

Lush - The bain of my life I hate the smell of Lush stores, but I'm on a slight reprieve four weeks prior to me writing this an electrical storm caused the store to burst into flames. As a result the store is undertaking a refit at a snails pace.

Holland & Barrett - My favourite health food type shop, I buy Busy Bee tablets from here which perk me up and clear ones body of all imputities, Eeee get me!

Contessa - Another lingerie store featuring more stylish goods and certainly with better window displays.

Shop@Panasonic - A nice looking electrical store but the staff are far too pushy.

Hawkins Bazaar - Bizarre might be a better word.

Enekes - The luggage store that looks like its trapped in the 70's.

Professional Cookware - Of course at professional prices.

Suits Plus - Discount men's formal attire and prices you cannot complain about, nit bad quality either.

The Officer's Club - More casual men's clothing at affordable prices, time is being called on this retailer though trade is down across the UK this type of retailer and the supposed offers they provide are no longer convincing the public.

Drucker - A nice café, but a wee bit pricey.

BHS - British Home Stores

Thorntons - See if you can spot the same staff members twice?

Dr & Herbs - Chinese Herbal remedies

Sunglass Hut - Sleazy staff make this an unappealing port of call for the latest eyewear.

Breeze - Fashions for men and women and unusually high prices

Bookworld - One of 5 "The works" stores in Cheltenham.

Mothercare

Art - Pictures to decorate your home with.

David Christopher - A very classy looking Jeweller at reasonable prices, I love the split levelling and décor of this store, it gives the impression that your somewhere you cannot afford to buy.

The Body Shop - A big target for animal rights campaigners, well at least since Loreal bought out the chain store in March 2006.

Dolland & Aitcheson

Watchbox - Cheap and cheerful looking watch retailer.

The Perfume Shop

T-Mobile

Soho Coffee Co. - My usual lunch spot, a bit pricey but close enough to my place of work to make the cost arguable.

Auntie Annies - The pretzel shop

Priciples

Warehouse

Faith Shoes

Monsoon - Yet another ladies fashion store

Bay Trading - As above!!! Grrrr

Sole - A classy shoe shop

Timpsons - Shoe repairs and key cutting

O2

Tie Rack

On the first floor

Kiwi - An interesting array of giftware, if they are open for you to purchase from.

TK MAXX - Discount clothing retailer that have the largest unit on the first floor, like all other stores in the chain its rather like a jumble sale.

High & Mighty - Casual & Formal clothing for the taller or wider man, That provides a few surprises if you're a man over a 34 inch waist you can shop here, and clothes that don't fit can be altered. High & Mighty are the largest supplier of Ben Sherman goods in Cheltenham, and the second largest Animal brand retailer in the town.

Made 4 Kids - Standard and designer clothing for children aged form 0 - 4 years.

Squat Orange - T-Shirt retailer which not only sell own design T-shirts they'll happily help you design one of your own.

Tobacco World - A popular tobacconists with a continuous plume of smoke bellowing out of the door.

Mini - Me Style Child - Fashionable kids clothing.

Bookworld

Prezents - Quirky gift store selling great gifts and collectable ornaments.

Jamie Daniel - Hairdressers.

Ellis & KillPartrick - Opticians.

Artisans - Another gift store.

Café Roma - An interesting café that sits on a bridge that joins The Regent Arcade to Cavendish House (House Of Fraser).

Regent Goldsmith - Standard Jewellers

The Sony Centre - Filled with great goods, but all the staff appear to have had personality transplants and some look suspiciously like cast members from BBC's The Office.

Prime Collection - Unusual Jewellery

Secret Lady - Independent lingerie store.

The Smoothie Bar - Speaks for itself really.

The Regent Arcades toilets are on the first floor, opposite the Sony store. This is also where you can enter the first level of the 600 space car park.

The Regent Arcade is expertly managed, by the same managerial team for quite some time. If I have one complaint about the Centre it's the security staff, you'll often find them grouped together in groups of four or more taking the piss out of people; in particular they like to pick on people's fashion choices. I find this rather appalling and all but two of the security staff seem to engage in this.

The cleaning staff keep the centre clean and tidy, spillage's are cleaned up very quickly indeed and these guys are far more friendly and approachable than the security staff, and seemingly more knowledgeable too.

The Regent Arcade is a nice centre, but as I said earlier it certainly lacks appeal to male customers this could be remedied by a music/entertainment store and a more mainline clothing retailer. The inclusion of this would undoubtedly be beneficial for all traders creating greater foot fall throughout.

For some reason the Regent Arcade is listed under shoe retailers, but since there are numerous other reviews for the centre here I decided to push on with this review. 

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