Maine Stays Journal · Local guide
Merry Hill's makeover and new owner: what has changed since 2021
Merry Hill came out of its owner's administration in 2020 with a £50 million improvement programme, announced in 2021. Since then it has gained a leisure quarter and Harvey Norman's first store in Great Britain. In March 2026 it was bought by Redical.
From administration to a five-year plan
In June 2020 the centre's owner, Intu, went into administration. Ownership passed to a group of banks that had lent against the centre and the Intu name was dropped. The asset manager Ellandi was appointed in September 2020.
In July 2021 a £50 million investment programme was announced. It covered a full design overhaul, a family entertainment leisure district, better cafés, pubs and restaurants, new signs and wayfinding and improvements at the Waterfront. The plan also included solar panels, more than 200 electric vehicle charging points, £14 million of decorative panelling work and a £3 million investment in the Asda store.
The thinking behind it
When the plan was announced in September 2021, the idea was to turn Merry Hill into the West Midlands' leading family shopping and leisure destination. It proposed splitting the centre into districts for entertainment, fashion and health and wellbeing, with better links to the Waterfront. Early concept art showed a new Odeon cinema joined to the Eat Central food court.
A new centre manager, Jonathan Poole, arrived in spring 2021 from The Liberty centre in Romford to deliver it.
What visitors can see now
Much of the outside of the centre now has new, more colourful wall tiles, reworked entrances and a new brand identity. A leisure quarter opened with Hollywood Bowl and a group of restaurants.
The Debenhams store, which closed on 15 May 2021, was split into three: Harvey Norman opened its first store in Great Britain there, alongside XF Gyms and Funstation. Marks & Spencer brought its two stores together into one, which opened on 27 November 2025.
A new owner
The centre was put up for sale in early September 2025, with a reported asking price in the region of £250 million and Knight Frank handling the sale. Frasers Group, INGKA Centres, KLX Retail Estate Partners and Redical were among the bidders. Redical completed the purchase on 20 March 2026.
Owners over the years
The centre has changed hands often. The Richardson brothers sold their interest to Mountleigh in 1990. Chelsfield bought it in 1993 and owned it outright by June 1996. Westfield took over in 2004 and sold half to Queensland Investment Corporation. Intu bought Westfield's share in 2014 and the rest in 2016, before its administration in 2020.
In 2018 a 75,000 sq ft Next store opened in the space left by Sainsbury's, which closed at the end of 2016.
The tram on its way
The biggest change still to come is outside the mall. Metro works have been running around Level Street since spring 2025. Trams are due to reach Merry Hill in 2028.
Why it matters for a stay nearby
A bigger leisure offer, the Waterfront next door and a tram stop on the way make Merry Hill a stronger base for longer stays. Our house, The Merry Hill Lounge, is about 2 miles by road from the centre, with a full kitchen and a washer dryer for the days you would rather not eat out.
Where to stay: The Merry Hill Lounge
- Four bedrooms and a sofa bed, sleeping up to 10
- Two bathrooms, a full kitchen and a washer dryer
- Free off-road parking with room for vans as well as cars
- 500 Mb Wi-Fi and a private back garden
- Bills included, with up to 20% off stays of 28 nights or more
Sources
- Wikipedia: Merry Hill Shopping Centre
- Black Country Radio, 19 July 2021
- Midland Metro Alliance, 11 July 2025
Sources checked on 6 October 2026. Road distances are measured on OpenStreetMap from the house, The Merry Hill Lounge, on 6 October 2026.
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Frequently asked questions
Who owns Merry Hill now?
Redical, which completed the purchase on 20 March 2026.
What was in the £50 million plan?
A design overhaul, a leisure district, better food and drink, new signs, Waterfront improvements, solar panels and more than 200 electric vehicle charging points, among other works.
How far is The Merry Hill Lounge from Merry Hill?
About 2 miles by road from the house.
Your Black Country stay,
sorted.
The Merry Hill Lounge: a whole house in Brierley Hill for up to 10, with parking, fast Wi-Fi and every bill included.