The latest episode of the Better Places podcast, Concilio’s Managing Director, Nick Dines, sat down with Alex Woolf, Chief Operating Officer at Romulus, to explore the transformation of Centre Court, a struggling post-pandemic shopping centre, into the vibrant, multi-purpose Wimbledon Quarter.

 

Romulus acquired the site in 2021, at a time when most investors were retreating from retail. But, as Alex explains, Wimbledon offered something rare: a central location, a strong local demographic, and a freehold site with the flexibility to reimagine.

 

The result is a striking example of modern regeneration. Retail was repositioned for local needs, new uses like co-working, leisure and wellbeing were brought in, and long-shuttered spaces were opened up to the street. Today, Wimbledon Quarter is home to Third Space, boutique climbing gyms, kids' fitness studios, the Huddle co-working brand, and even a rooftop mushroom farm supplying local restaurants.

 

Alex discusses how placemaking, sustainability and a long-term mindset helped build a destination that truly reflects its community and why Wimbledon’s success offers a model for the future of town centres across the UK.