Major food operator to arrive in Lichfield as council signs £1.7m deal

The Botanist will be arriving in Lichfield after the council approved a £1.7m investment in the brand. 

It will join the Everyman Cinema as an anchor tenant in Three Spires Shopping Centre, as part of its redevelopment of the former Debenhams store.

Lichfield District Council is operating as the landlord of The Botanist and is paying its fit-out fees. Over the coming years, “all of that will be paid back with interest and acts as an investment” for the council says Council leader Doug Pullen.

The centre’s multi-storey car park will be knocked down in May and it will take six months to complete and create a plaza that will begin at the Birmingham Road site to outside the Everyman Cinema. 

Pullen also said that other units will be filled due to the “strong brand” of The Botanist, which will see others “remain for not just a few years, but for many, many years to come”.

The wider redevelopment scheme is being spearheaded by a joint venture partnership formed between Lichfield District Council and Evolve Estates (part of M Core and LCP Group), the owner of the Three Spires shopping centre. 

M Core, acquired the open-air outdoor shopping centre in May 2022. Three Spires attracts 9.9m shoppers a year and provides more than 70,000 sq ft of retail floor space for 43 retailers including Sports Direct, Tesco and Boots.

Lichfield District Council’s Deputy Leader Cllr Andy Smith, said: “This strategic decision to invest in attracting a leading food and beverage brand is part of a proven approach seen in major projects nationwide.

“Attracting a high-quality anchor tenant sparks interest and enthusiasm from other businesses, creating a ripple effect that will see more brands drawn to have a presence in the city centre. It is also predicted that upwards of 80 additional permanent jobs will be created on the former Debenhams site.

“Lichfield is forging an enviable reputation as a culinary hotspot boasting the only Michelin starred restaurant in Staffordshire amongst an array of fabulous places to eat. Bringing a new prestige brand to the city will only complement this and give residents even more high quality dining choices.”