Key Sectors

Retail and Leisure

From a multi award-winning market to established retail outlets and a vibrant visitor economy

For more information contact Vicky Hazlett

Download the brochure The perfect location to invest, live and visit

The perfect location to invest, live and visit

Doncaster has earned a prominent reputation as a vibrant centre for shopping and leisure activities. It features a unique combination of well-known retail stores, shopping complexes, artisan shops and a bustling market.

Additionally, the city offers a wide array of attractions, including museums and galleries, castles, stately homes, theatres, cinemas, world-class sporting venues, the award winning Yorkshire Wildlife Park, and of course is home to the oldest Classic horse race, the St Leger Stakes.

Doncaster is also proud of its wide variety of restaurants, cafes and takeaways to complement the retail and visitor economy experience, taking you on a journey of discovery with foods from around the world. Combining a shopping trip with cultural and leisure activities is growing in popularity, and Doncaster is able to take advantage of this trend with its lively nightlife scene, great places to stay and outstanding cultural & leisure attractions.

Doncaster: the place to be

0
+Car parking spaces across the City Centre
0
mFootfall recorded annually across the City Centre

The perfect location to invest, live and visit

Doncaster: the place to be

From a multi award-winning market to established retail outlets and vibrant visitor economy. With millions of day-visitors, tourism is a significant contributor to Doncaster’s economy with arts, events, sport, culture and heritage being key drivers of investment and growth.

Doncaster proudly hosts a spectrum of events all year round, from Armed Forces Day and Steampunk spectaculars, to the vibrant celebrations of Doncaster Pride and live music events. This variety of activity helps contribute to strong footfall during every season.

The combination of Doncaster’s strong retail tradition and thriving visitor economy provides outstanding opportunities for investors who want to play a part in shaping the development of Doncaster’s retail and leisure offer.

Outstanding connectivity

Doncaster’s multi-modal transport connectivity offers excellent access cost benefits of being based in South Yorkshire to major conurbations, coastal ports and other parts of the UK and beyond, linking east to west and north to south.

Population

£
0
mTowns Deal funding that will see the delivery of a new 5 storey office development
£
0
mInvestment in the last 3 years (2020-23)

Population

Doncaster is the second largest settlement in South Yorkshire; the 15th largest in terms of population in the UK (outside of London).

Doncaster has a population of 308,700 living within the City boundary. Yorkshire & Humber has a population of 5,482,500.

Location and Catchment

Doncaster continues to achieve record breaking investment levels of over £525m in the last 3 years (2020-23) creating almost 4,000 jobs
Better than the national average for housing affordability: ratio of 5.87 against a national average of 9.82
78.4% of working age population are economically active

Civic and Cultural Quarter

Over a period of ten years, Doncaster has seen the development of the Civic and Cultural Quarter which is now proudly home to the City of Doncaster Council Civic Office, Cast theatre, Danum Gallery, Library and Museum (DGLAM), Savoy Cinema and Mayfair Pub and Kitchen.

All about culture

DGLAM opened its doors in 2021, proudly featuring the original façade of the historic Doncaster Girls High School. Its vast collection of artefacts reveal the story of Doncaster’s past alongside its Rail Heritage Centre, Library Art Gallery and cafe. This city centre jewel contributed to attracting over 170,000 visitors in the financial year 2023/24.

Cast theatre celebrated its tenth birthday in 2023 and has made a significant impact on the Square hosting local and national touring performances, with an estimated footfall of 125,000 last financial year. Neighbours, Savoy Cinema have enjoyed a strong start since opening in 2021, now attracting over 150,000 visitors per annum.

Sir Nigel Gresley Square accommodates up to 12,000 people at any one time and plays host to various outdoor events including the popular annual DN1 Live music festival.

Opportunities

It’s an ideal time to be considering locating your hospitality, retail or office based business in Doncaster.

Sir Nigel Gresley Square

Named after the legendary locomotive engineer Sir Nigel Gresley who designed the creation of world famous locomotives like Mallard and Flying Scotsman in Doncaster, Sir Nigel Gresley Square was designed to be an architecturally appealing square featuring quality seating, designer lighting and water fountains. Central to the square is a stunning eight metre high sculpture, called Danum designed by landscape architects Whitelaw Turkington. In 2020, a 10 metre wide stone frieze from the former Doncaster Gaumont Cinema was relocated to the Square.
CCQ

Of the five restaurant units connected to the six screen Savoy Cinema in Sir Nigel Gresley Square, two remain available for occupation. Mayfair Pub and Kitchen successfully opened their doors in February 2024 and Unit 3 will shortly be open for business. Units range from 3,000 sqft to 3,800 sqft and each feature an extensive dedicated outdoor seating area.
Regeneration

Through the demolition of Central Library and the improvements to Copley House, the opportunities within Waterdale will be increased. Currently home to several businesses from cafes and restaurants to retailers and office based services and with new projects in the pipeline, could Waterdale be the area for your business?

Count on us and expect excellent business support

Business Doncaster is the first point of contact for any business looking to locate in Doncaster and for businesses already here.

The breadth and depth of our bespoke business support offer, and the strength of the relationships between our partner organisations and businesses, is a real source of pride. It exemplifies the commitment of our businesses towards the aim of making Doncaster the best place to do business.

We have a passionate and knowledgeable investment team. Whether you are seeking assistance with property search or support with recruitment, help is at hand.

Business Support

For more information contact Vicky Hazlett

Download the Retail sector brochure