Key Points

• Cardiff city centre is set for a multi-million pound shopping arcade revamp this summer.
• The UK’s largest Hollywood Bowl site, with an electric go-kart track, is due to open at St David’s shopping centre.
• The new Hollywood Bowl will be the company’s second site in Cardiff, alongside the existing venue at the Red Dragon Centre in Cardiff Bay.
• Landsec has also announced renovation plans for Queens Arcade, including three new restaurants and frontage restoration on Working Street.
• The developer says the work is intended to create jobs and bring more visitors into the city centre.

Cardiff (Cardiff Daily) July 20, 2026 – City centre is set for a multi-million pound shopping arcade revamp this summer, with a major leisure and retail upgrade planned across two neighbouring sites. The development will bring a large new Hollywood Bowl venue to St David’s shopping centre alongside renovation work at Queens Arcade, according to property developer Landsec.

What is planned for St David’s shopping centre?

Cardiff is due to gain the UK’s largest Hollywood Bowl site at St David’s, with the attraction also set to include an electric go-kart track. The new venue will become Hollywood Bowl’s second location in the city, adding to its existing site at the Red Dragon Centre in Cardiff Bay.

The planned opening places a new leisure attraction at the centre of the city’s retail offer at a time when shopping destinations are increasingly trying to mix entertainment with traditional retail. The addition of bowling and go-karting is designed to broaden the appeal of St David’s beyond standard shopping trips.

The development forms part of a wider push to keep city centres competitive by offering more reasons for families, groups and younger visitors to spend time there. Landsec has said the project is part of a larger regeneration of the area.

Why is Queens Arcade being renovated?

According to Landsec, Queens Arcade will also undergo renovation as part of the same overall phase of work. The plans include three new restaurants and restoration of the frontage on Working Street.

The arcade sits beside St David’s, so the work is likely to affect one of the most visible parts of Cardiff’s central shopping area. Bringing in new food outlets may help increase footfall during different times of day, while frontage improvements are intended to refresh the appearance of the building.

Landsec has submitted proposals for the first phase of the works. The company says the changes are aimed at improving the city centre environment and attracting more visitors.

What has Landsec said about the project?

Landsec says the proposals would create jobs and encourage more people to visit Cardiff city centre. That message places the development within a broader effort to support the local economy and strengthen the appeal of the retail core.

The firm’s plans combine leisure, dining and building restoration rather than focusing on shopping alone. This reflects a wider shift in city centre development, where operators are looking to offer a mixed destination experience.

As reported by the original coverage, the emphasis is on bringing new activity into the centre rather than relying only on existing footfall. The planned investment is being presented as part of a long-term strategy for the area.

How does the new Hollywood Bowl fit in?

The new Hollywood Bowl will be one of the headline elements of the revamp because of its scale and the addition of the electric go-kart track. It will be the company’s second Cardiff venue, which suggests the chain sees enough demand in the city to support more than one location.

St David’s is already one of Cardiff’s best-known retail destinations, so adding a major leisure attraction may help extend visits and increase dwell time. For shoppers, that could mean a stronger mix of activities in one place.

For the wider city centre, the opening may also support nearby businesses by drawing a different type of visitor. Leisure attractions often encourage longer stays than standard shopping trips.

What could the work mean for Cardiff city centre?

The project may help Cardiff city centre compete more effectively with out-of-town retail and entertainment sites. A combination of bowling, go-karting, restaurants and refreshed arcade frontage gives the area a more varied offer.

The development could also influence how people move through the centre, especially if the new leisure and dining spaces create more reasons to visit outside peak shopping hours. That may be important for surrounding businesses that depend on steady footfall.

Because the work is being presented as a multi-million pound revamp, it also signals continued confidence in Cardiff as a commercial and leisure destination. The timing this summer suggests the changes are moving into a more visible phase.

What happens next?

Landsec has already submitted proposals for the first phase of the works, so the next stage will depend on how the plans progress.

The available information indicates that the project is moving forward, with details already set out for both St David’s and Queens Arcade.

The scale of the development means it is likely to be watched closely by retailers, hospitality businesses and city centre workers. Any changes to the pace of construction or opening timetable will matter to people operating in the area.

Background of this development

Cardiff city centre has been evolving as shopping centres and arcades adapt to changing customer habits. Across the UK, leisure and food-led developments have increasingly been used to support footfall in areas that once relied mainly on retail.

St David’s and Queens Arcade sit at the heart of Cardiff’s central shopping district, so any investment there is significant for the wider city economy.

The new plans add to the ongoing effort to keep historic and modern shopping spaces relevant in a changing market.

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What could this mean for visitors and businesses?

For visitors, the revamp could mean a wider choice of activities in one part of the city centre, with shopping, dining and leisure more closely linked. That may make Cardiff a more convenient destination for families, groups and day-trippers.

For businesses, the developments may bring opportunities from increased footfall, though the long-term impact will depend on how successfully the new venues attract steady demand.

If the plans work as intended, the surrounding area could benefit from stronger visitor numbers and more spending across the city centre.