WHILE a string of York shops have shut-down in recent months, one city shopping centre appears to be bucking the trend.

York’s Coppergate Centre has proved there is still demand for city centre retailing, with bosses announcing this week that all units have now been filled.

The final unit to be let is the former change kiosk in St Mary’s Square, which is now occupied by Hubble Bubble Tea, the city’s third bubble tea outlet, while Pavers has moved in at the top of Coppergate Walk.

The kiosk has recently been used to screen the royal wedding and as a selfie booth for YO1 Radio’s charity fundraising.

Centre manager Pippa Unwin said: “We have a great mix of cultural attractions, retail, from luxury brands to affordable fashion, and food and drink, with indoors and alfresco dining to suit the changing seasons.

“Perhaps most significantly, as we have no pubs or bars, this is not an area frequented by stag and hen parties, which means that it is still very family friendly, even at the busiest times of the weekend.

“With on-site parking and buses stopping right outside Primark on Parliament Street, it is accessible to residents and tourists alike.”

Bosses acknowledge that the centre has benefitted from the re-opening of Jorvik Viking Centre last April, but feel it has become an attraction in its own right thanks to the suspended umbrellas, which have become an Instagram must-see.

Pippa said: “The umbrellas add a lovely touch of colour and, with our winter lights taking over from November to February, this is a tremendously welcoming part of the city centre.

“We had a great fortnight for screening Wimbledon, too, with the hot weather making our deckchairs a highly attractive space to relax.”

With the news of its full occupancy, the centre appears to have bucked the trend that has seen many retailers shutting up shop elsewhere in York.

This week the Press reported that gift shop Pylones had closed in Coney Street, bringing the total of empty premises to 12, with a new shop, Fone Hub, taking over only part of the site that was Wallis. For Coppergate details visit www.coppergateshoppingcentre.co.uk .