Sailmakers Shopping Centre in Ipswich announces Blue Inc and Leading Labels moving into former Topshop and Topman as Bodycare to open store

A Suffolk shopping centre has secured two retailers for its empty flagship store – as efforts continue to fill other vacant units.

Sailmakers in Ipswich has announced the new tenants taking on the former Topshop and Topman include men’s fashion brand Blue Inc which has expanded from its existing unit at the shopping centre.

Meanwhile, Leading Labels, which sells menswear and womenswear, is moving into the remaining section of the two-floor shop.

Earlier this summer the shopping centre was bought by Nottingham property group ALB, which pledged to refurbish vacant units and offer cheaper, more flexible leases to attract new businesses on board.

Health and beauty brand Bodycare has also finalised a deal this week to take up the former Blue Inc premises.

Angling store Bex Bait & Tackle has more than doubled in size, having moved from its former 900 sq ft unit to two neighbouring units measuring 2,215 sq ft.

ALB is in talks with other brands to occupy some of the vacant units.

Arran Bailey, managing director of ALB Group, said: “We’re definitely heading in the right direction and, with a good wind behind us, we hope to fill the remaining units in the very near future.

“The current economic uncertainties and cost-of-living crisis means it’s more important than ever that we put all hands on deck to encourage trade and make the terms affordable for traders.

"It appears that our efforts are working.”