Britain’s toy shop, The Entertainer, today announces new and relocated stores across the UK as it unveils expansion plans for 2026.
The UK’s largest independent toy retailer, The Entertainer, today revealed the first half of its nationwide expansion plans for the year ahead, following a significant period of growth with UK retail sales having increased by over 20% in the last twelve months.
The retailer’s plans include summer openings for a new, relocated and 25% larger store in the St David’s Shopping Centre in Cardiff and the replacement of a competitor with a brand-new store in Castleford’s Junction 32 outlet development in West Yorkshire.
Following the success of its first outlet store at Dalton Park in County Durham last year, the Amersham-based retailer will also open its first large-scale outlet shop, taking over 8,000 square feet of space at the Galleria Outlet in Hatfield from May.
The new stores follow-on from a busy year in 2025, which saw a series of openings, relocations and refurbishments, including the extension of the Churchill Square store in Brighton, the relocation of the Cambridge and Bluewater stores and new openings in Portsmouth’s Gunwharf Quays, Aberdeen’s Union Square, Rushden Lakes near Northampton, The Gyle in Edinburgh and The O2 London.
Reflecting on the latest announcements and teasing further news to come, TEAL Group CEO, Andrew Murphy, said: “As Britain’s Toy Shop, we’re constantly identifying opportunities to expand our UK business and improve the quality of our existing physical estate. I’m delighted with how our plans for 2026 are shaping up in that regard, with a fabulous upgrade in location, size and environment imminent for our very successful Cardiff St David’s store, a huge vote of confidence in our brand from the owners of J32 in Castleford and – first off the blocks – our biggest new store for well over a decade opening during May at The Galleria in Hatfield.”
“Before the start of the school summer holidays we expect to have more exciting store opening announcements to share, with great news incoming for toy enthusiasts in Manchester, Bedford and the Channel Islands, and are also making good progress with targets for 2027 in the midlands, the north-east and Scotland.”
