Victoria Square has announced it is to operate extended opening hours in a drive to promote a City Centre evening economy.

Speaking at a Belfast City Centre retailer forum to discuss Belfast’s late night offering, Hugh Black welcomed retailer’s commitment to extending their offering and called for all City Centre retailers to join the initiative.

Reflecting on Belfast City Centre’s More Time campaign, Hugh Black, said: “We are committed to our extended opening hours and fully endorse any activity which helps promote Belfast City Centre as a place to spend time in the evening. We feel this is essential to the growth of Belfast as a modern city centre and as a means of continuing to attract more visitors to the City. “Our opening hours reflect our commitment to support this drive with shops open until 7pm Monday and Tuesday and 9pm Wednesday to Friday. Also coming in June is a brand new 8-screen Odeon cinema and a range of new eateries and restaurants which will further extend our evening offering.” Gary Slattery, General Manager for House of Fraser, the anchor store at Victoria Square, said: “We’re delighted to be able to open to shoppers in the evening. In addition to our excellent retail mix we are also able to offer something extra - our top floor restaurant, will open late every night and has a separate entrance at street level direct to the restaurant allowing it to operate independently from the main store.”

Victoria Square opens to the public on 6th March with the cinema and further eateries to be opened by June.