Cardiff City Centre Shopping Revamp: St David’s & Queens Arcade 2026

Key Points

• Cardiff city centre is scheduled to receive a multi-million pound shopping arcade revamp beginning this summer.
• The UK’s largest Hollywood Bowl site, complete with an electric go-kart track, will open at St David’s shopping centre.
• Neighbouring Queens Arcade is undergoing significant renovations, including three new restaurants and restoration of the Working Street frontage, according to property developer Landsec.
• Landsec has submitted proposals for the first phase of the Queens Arcade works, stating the plans will create jobs and encourage more visitors to the city centre.
• The new Hollywood Bowl at St David’s will be the 10-pin bowling company’s second Cardiff location, following its existing site at the Red Dragon Centre in Cardiff Bay.
• The firm describes the St David’s venue as the largest in the UK, featuring its first electric go-karting attraction, 20 bowling lanes, interactive darts and a live sports bar.
• Landsec, which also owns and operates St David’s, says the Queens Arcade development will add to Cardiff’s overall shopping, food and leisure offer.
• Helen Morgan, centre director, stated: “Our exciting new plans for Queens Arcade build on our long-standing investment in Cardiff. Our plans will elevate the site in line with other areas of the city”.

City Centre (Cardiff Daily) July 13, 2026 – Cardiff city centre is set for a multi-million pound shopping arcade revamp this summer, with major entertainment and leisure developments planned at St David’s and significant renovations announced at the neighbouring Queens Arcade.

As reported by the original coverage of the announcement, the UK’s largest Hollywood Bowl site, including an electric go-kart track, is set to open in the capital’s St David’s shopping centre.

This comes as renovations have been announced at the neighbouring Queens Arcade, including three new restaurants and restoration of the frontage on Working Street, according to property development firm Landsec.

Landsec has submitted proposals for the first phase of the works and said the plans would create jobs and encourage more people to visit the city centre.

The new Hollywood Bowl at St David’s will be the 10-pin bowling company’s second location in Cardiff, with an existing site at the Red Dragon Centre in Cardiff Bay.

The firm said it would be the largest in the UK, featuring its first electric go-karting attraction, as well as 20 bowling lanes, interactive darts and a live sports bar.

Meanwhile, Landsec, which also owns and operates St David’s shopping centre, said the Queens Arcade development would add to the city’s shopping, food and leisure offer.

Helen Morgan, centre director, said:

“Our exciting new plans for Queens Arcade build on our long-standing investment in Cardiff. Our plans will elevate the site in line with other areas of thecity”.

How Will the New Hollywood Bowl at St David’s Transform Leisure in Cardiff?

The planned Hollywood Bowl at St David’s is described as the UK’s largest site for the 10-pin bowling brand. It will include the company’s first electric go-karting attraction in the UK, alongside 20 bowling lanes, interactive darts and a live sports bar.

This marks the second Hollywood Bowl location in Cardiff, following the existing site at the Red Dragon Centre in Cardiff Bay.

The addition of electric go-karting, interactive darts and a live sports bar indicates a move towards a more diversified leisure experience, aimed at attracting a broader range of visitors beyond traditional bowling customers.

By positioning the venue as the largest in the UK, the operator is signalling an ambition to make St David’s a key leisure destination not only for Cardiff residents but also for visitors from across the region.

What Renovations Are Planned for Queens Arcade and Working Street?

According to property development firm Landsec, the Queens Arcade renovations include the introduction of three new restaurants and the restoration of the frontage on Working Street. Landsec has submitted proposals for the first phase of these works.

The company states that the plans would create jobs and encourage more people to visit the city centre. As the owner and operator of both St David’s and Queens Arcade, Landsec describes the development as part of a broader effort to enhance Cardiff’s shopping, food and leisure offer.

Helen Morgan, centre director, said the plans

“build on our long-standing investment in Cardiff” and aim to

“elevate the site in line with other areas of the city”.

This suggests that the Queens Arcade upgrade is aligned with wider city-centre improvement strategies, rather than being an isolated project.

Why Are Landsec and Hollywood Bowl Investing in Cardiff’s City Centre?

Landsec’s commitment to both St David’s and Queens Arcade reflects a continued focus on Cardiff as a priority location for retail and leisure investment.

The company’s statement that the Queens Arcade development “will add to the city’s shopping, food and leisure offer” indicates a strategic aim to diversify the types of experiences available in the city centre.

Similarly, Hollywood Bowl’s decision to open its largest UK site in Cardiff, incorporating electric go-karting and new leisure formats, suggests confidence in the city’s visitor numbers and footfall potential.

The presence of an existing Hollywood Bowl at the Red Dragon Centre in Cardiff Bay may have provided data on demand and helped inform the decision to expand into St David’s.

Both developments are framed as part of a longer-term investment in Cardiff, with Landsec explicitly referencing its “long-standing investment in Cardiff”.

This points to a multi-year strategy rather than a short-term project, with the summer revamp described as the first phase of wider works.

What Impact Could These Developments Have on Local Jobs and Retail?

Landsec says the Queens Arcade plans “would create jobs and encourage more people to visit the city centre”. The introduction of three new restaurants at Queens Arcade, alongside restoration work on the Working Street frontage, implies the need for additional staff in hospitality, retail and maintenance roles.

The expanded Hollywood Bowl venue, with 20 bowling lanes, interactive darts, electric go-karting and a live sports bar, will also require a larger workforce than a standard bowling centre.

This includes roles in customer service, operations, bar and kitchen staff, and technical support for the new attractions.

While the exact number of jobs has not been specified in the available reporting, the emphasis on job creation suggests that the developments are expected to have a measurable impact on local employment, particularly in leisure and hospitality sectors.

Background: The Development of St David’s and Queens Arcade in Cardiff

Cardiff’s city centre has long been anchored by two major retail and leisure complexes: St David’s and Queens Arcade. St David’s, owned and operated by Landsec, has been the subject of multiple phases of investment and expansion over the years, becoming one of the largest shopping destinations in the UK outside London.

Queens Arcade, also under Landsec’s ownership, has historically served as a more traditional high-street style shopping arcade, with a mix of retail units and food outlets.

The recent announcement of renovations at Queens Arcade, including three new restaurants and frontage restoration on Working Street, represents a continuation of efforts to modernise the site and align it with contemporary retail and leisure expectations.

The planned opening of the UK’s largest Hollywood Bowl at St David’s adds a significant leisure component to an area already dominated by retail.

The inclusion of electric go-karting, interactive darts and a live sports bar indicates a shift towards a more experience-driven model, consistent with broader trends in UK city-centre development where leisure and entertainment are increasingly integrated with shopping.

Landsec’s statement that the Queens Arcade plans “build on our long-standing investment in Cardiff” and aim to

“elevate the site in line with other areas of the city”

suggests that these projects are part of a coordinated strategy to enhance Cardiff’s overall city-centre appeal.

This strategy appears to prioritise not just retail, but a broader mix of food, leisure and entertainment to attract a wider demographic of visitors.

Prediction: How Could This Development Affect Cardiff Shoppers, Workers and Residents?

For Cardiff shoppers, the multi-million pound revamp is likely to increase the range of leisure and food options available in the city centre.

The addition of the UK’s largest Hollywood Bowl, with electric go-karting and a live sports bar, could make St David’s a more frequent destination for families, young adults and groups looking for entertainment alongside shopping. Similarly, three new restaurants at Queens Arcade may broaden the city’s dining choices and encourage longer visits.

For workers, particularly in hospitality and leisure, the developments are expected to create new job opportunities, as Landsec has stated that the Queens Arcade plans “would create jobs”.

The expanded Hollywood Bowl venue and new restaurant openings will require additional staff in customer service, bar, kitchen and operational roles, potentially benefiting local residents seeking employment in these sectors.

For Cardiff residents more broadly, the upgrades could enhance the overall appeal of the city centre, potentially increasing footfall and supporting other local businesses that rely on visitors.

However, as the developments are framed as part of a longer-term investment, their full impact on traffic, congestion and the character of the city centre will depend on how subsequent phases are delivered and managed over time.

As Helen Morgan noted, the plans aim to “elevate the site in line with other areas of the city”, suggesting that the revamp is intended to support Cardiff’s broader economic and urban strategy rather than operate as a standalone project.