Record Breaking Freshers Footfall at the Merrion Centre
The Merrion Centre has once again cemented its position as the heart of Leeds student life, welcoming record-breaking numbers of visitors during this year’s Freshers’ period.
Welcoming New Neighbours with fun & food tours
The start of the new term saw over 416,000 visitors at the Merrion Centre, with Freshers’ Week delivering the centre’s highest weekly total of the year. This represented over 4% uplift year-on-year and a 9.8% increase week-on-week.
To mark the return of their new neighbours, the Merrion Centre unveiled a dedicated Freshers’ Hub in its main mall.
Running Monday to Saturday, the hub became a focal point for student engagement, featuring interactive games, competitions, giveaways, exclusive offers, and a live DJ that brought a vibrant atmosphere to the centre.
The ‘Shop, Show & Win’ competition also returned, rewarding purchases at Merrion retailers with prize draws. With over £12,000 worth of prizes to give away, courtesy of its extensive range of shops, eateries, and neighbouring venues including the first direct bank arena and O2 Academy, the campaign successfully introduced new visitors to Leeds.
A First for Merrion: Student Food Tours
2025 also marked the launch of the Merrion Centre’s first-ever Food Tours – a guided introduction to the centre’s diverse dining scene. Over 100 students participated, in collaboration with student accommodation providers Symons House and iQ Altus House. The tours were supported by many of the Merrion Centre’s independent venues, including Konga Coffee, La Fiesta, Chilli Shop, Meet Fresh, Pho 37 and Hook & Line.
Joanna Rafferty, Customer Service Advisor at iQ Student Accommodation, said:
“Our latest residents loved this year’s food tour collaboration and gave overwhelmingly positive feedback. It was great for them to explore the Merrion Centre first-hand and be welcomed to the city/meet our neighbours. This latest collaboration added so much value to the new student experience with iQ and gave them a chance to experience something different. It was great to step outside the accommodation setting and showcase what is on their doorstep.”
Rita Jemal, Owner of Konga Coffee, added:
“We’re incredibly grateful for the opportunity to be part of the first Merrion Food Tour – it was such a brilliant initiative! The event was hugely beneficial for us, as it introduced Konga Coffee to a new and important audience. It allowed us to connect directly with students and showcase what makes our coffee shop unique. We’re excited to have been part of something that not only supported local businesses but also gave students a fun and memorable way to experience the best of the Merrion Centre.”
Wide Participation from Leeds’ Academic Community
Students engaging with the Merrion Centre came from across the city’s institutions, with the majority from the University of Leeds (39.1%) and Leeds Beckett (27.2%), alongside strong representation from Leeds Arts University (8.4%), Leeds City College (8.1%), and others.
James Broughton, Head of Marketing Communications for TCS said:
“This year’s Freshers’ campaign has been our most ambitious to date, and it’s fantastic to see the record-breaking results reflect the effort and creativity of our team and tenants. From the introduction of our Freshers’ Hub to the launch of Food Tours, we are continually evolving our offering to ensure students not only visit us but choose to return time and time again.
“The Merrion Centre has been welcoming students for over six decades, and as the city continues to grow, we remain proud to play a central role in student life, offering a unique mix of everyday essentials, dining, leisure, and social experiences.”
To view the video & album from Freshers week at the Merrion Centre you can check out our Facebook album here
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