WITH many high street stores reporting positive Christmas sales, including some in Hull, 2010 looks set to be a bright year for city centre shopping.

In spring, one of the largest units at St Stephen's shopping centre - totalling 9,000sq ft of space - will be taken up by one of the UK's fastest growing fashion Cartier Replica Watches retailers.

Cult Clothing, which sells a range of fashions for men and women, currently has about 20 stores across the UK and is set to open in the city by Easter.

St Stephen's centre manager, Jim Harris, said he believes confidence in Hull as a shopping and leisure destination will continue to grow over the next 12 months. He hopes the arrival of the new store will further cement Hull's status as a credible shopping destination to rival cities such as York and Leeds.

"We're absolutely delighted that the deal with Cult has been signed and sealed," said Jim. "Cult is a leading fashion brand for young people and will be new to the city. It will add to Hull's fashion credentials. If young people want a certain look or brand, they are willing to travel the distance. Before now, they would have had to go to Sheffield or Leeds to visit a Cult store but now they don't have to.

"Along with Next, H&M, Zara and Topshop, to name but a few, we have a major fashion offer at St Stephen's."

In December, the centre reported its busiest pre-Christmas and most successful Saturday trading since it opened. And Jim believes this is down to the fantastic variety of shopping brands and events in the catalog printing city as a whole. He said: "In 2009, events such as the Clipper 09-10 Round the World Yacht Race and the Freedom Festival brought lots of people into the city. They will have attracted people who may not have been to the city before or even those who have not been shopping here for a while.

"In the past few years, with the opening of St Stephen's, Hull has become a top shopping destination and I think people are impressed with what they have seen and have returned to shop here. In December, many stores saw record sales and some saw the best month in their third year of trading."

For more information, visit the website hull.co.uk

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