Harrow’s St George’s Shopping Centre is marking three decades of trading with a month-long programme of festivities throughout April.
The retail complex, which first opened its doors on April 23, 1996, will host family-friendly entertainment every weekend of the month, beginning with activities running between 11am and 3pm.
Entertainment scheduled includes balloon shaping, artistic face decoration, hands-on craft sessions and participatory experiences, all themed around dragons and knights.
A spokesperson for the centre expressed delight at reaching the milestone: the team is thrilled to be commemorating 30 years serving Harrow. Over the past three decades, St George’s has evolved beyond merely a place to shop into a hub where residents gather, work and form lasting connections. The complimentary event schedule represents the centre’s gratitude to local people for their continued support throughout the years.
The 212,000 square foot development comprises 40 retail spaces distributed across three floors. Major tenants include a 12-screen Vue cinema, Boots, TK Maxx and B&M, while a multi-storey car park provides 643 parking spaces. The venue welcomes approximately 8.9 million shoppers and visitors each year.
The inaugural activity took place on Saturday, April 4, featuring balloon modelling. Subsequent weekend highlights include face painting on April 11, shield design workshops on April 12, dragon craft sessions on April 18, dragon-themed design on April 19, and character appearances by performers dressed as dragons and knights on April 25. Face painting returns on April 26.
To mark the anniversary date itself, the centre will conceal 30 gift tags throughout its premises on April 23. Each tag is exchangeable for a gift voucher, with one per person permitted. A themed photography area will also be installed for visitors to take commemorative pictures.
The shopping centre has been described as a vital destination for retail, leisure and daily necessities, forming an essential component of Harrow town centre’s overall appeal. A dedicated online journal and image collection documenting the venue’s development from construction through to today will be introduced.
Full details are available at www.stgeorgesshopping.co.uk.