This revised feature reorganises the main retail details in Mr Simms Sweet Shop and Brand Eyewear Open at Gloucester Quays: What Shoppers Can Expect for clearer reading while preserving the original information.
Gloucester Quays expanded its retail mix in spring 2026 with two very different arrivals: nostalgic confectioner Mr Simms Sweet Shop and eyewear retailer Brand Eyewear.
Both opened in March.
Mr Simms took a central 2,117 square foot unit, while Brand Eyewear launched a 505 square foot store.
Mr Simms Sweet Shop
Mr Simms specialises in traditional and contemporary confectionery.
What does it sell?
The range includes retro sweets, chocolates, liquorice, sour products, branded confectionery and own-label lines.
Why the store has a nostalgic feel
The brand uses the visual language of a traditional sweet shop, including jars and old-fashioned presentation.
When was Mr Simms founded?
The company traces its origins to a first shop in Leek in 2004.
How significant is the Gloucester branch?
The Gloucester Quays opening was described as the brand’s third outlet in the South West.
Why a 2,117 sq ft unit matters
It gives the store enough space to present a broad confectionery range rather than functioning as a small kiosk.
Where is it?
The shop is located inside the Gloucester Quays outlet destination.
Current opening hours
Gloucester Quays lists the store on its current directory.
Visitors should check the centre or retailer directly because opening hours can change.
Brand Eyewear
The second arrival was Brand Eyewear.
Why this opening was different
The Gloucester Quays branch was presented as a debut retail concept for the company.
What brands are stocked?
Published launch information listed names including Ray-Ban, Oakley, Ralph Lauren, Giorgio Armani and DKNY.
What is the Lens Bar?
The store includes a feature allowing customers to compare lens colours, coatings and frame materials.
Why that matters
Eyewear is both a fashion purchase and a technical product.
Customers need to consider fit, lens options and intended use.
Optical versus sunglasses
The shop’s launch materials positioned it around both frames and premium eyewear options.
Why shoppers should check prescription services directly
Services can change and may differ from a full high-street optician.
Customers needing eye tests or prescription lenses should confirm what is available before travelling.
Gloucester Quays as an outlet destination
The centre combines discounted fashion, lifestyle retail, restaurants and leisure facilities.
What other brands are there?
The current directory includes names such as Adidas, Levi’s, M&S Outlet, Clarks, The North Face and Le Creuset.
Why Mr Simms broadens the mix
It adds a family-focused purchase that is different from clothing and homeware.
Why Brand Eyewear broadens the mix
It adds specialist accessories and optical-style retail to the outlet offer.
Peel Retail & Leisure’s strategy
The owner described Gloucester Quays as a “crossover” destination combining shopping, food and leisure.
Why crossover retail matters
Shopping centres increasingly compete not just on stores but on whether people can spend several hours eating, exercising or attending entertainment.
Clip ‘n Climb
The centre had recently added family leisure through Clip ‘n Climb.
Food expansion
Several restaurant concepts were also announced during 2026.
Banchina Italian
The Italian concept opened as part of the food and drink expansion.
Muse Brasserie
Muse was another new restaurant addition announced for the site.
Umami
COSMO Restaurant Group’s Umami concept was expected to arrive later in the year.
Why restaurants support retail
Food gives customers a reason to extend a visit rather than leave after completing a purchase.
Outlet pricing
Gloucester Quays advertises discounts of up to 70% at participating outlet stores.
Why “up to” matters
It does not mean every product is discounted by 70%.
Individual products and shops have different reductions.
Mr Simms is not necessarily an outlet-discount concept
A confectionery shop inside an outlet centre may operate differently from fashion brands selling past-season stock.
Why shoppers should compare prices
Being inside an outlet destination does not guarantee every item is cheaper than every online alternative.
Parking
Visitors should check current Gloucester Quays parking arrangements before travelling.
Public transport
The centre is close to Gloucester Docks and within reach of the city centre.
Combining the visit
Nearby attractions include Gloucester Cathedral and the National Waterways Museum.
Why location helps
A waterside setting allows the centre to function as part of a wider day out rather than a standalone retail park.
Shopping with children
Mr Simms and family leisure options increase the range of reasons for families to visit.
Sugar-free sweets
Mr Simms lists sugar-free confectionery among its product categories.
Why “sugar-free” does not automatically mean healthier
Confectionery can still contain calories and sweeteners.
People with dietary requirements should check labels.
Allergen information
Sweets may contain or come into contact with nuts, milk, gluten or other allergens.
Customers should rely on current packaging and retailer information.
Why nostalgic sweets remain popular
They combine low-cost indulgence with memory and novelty.
Gift potential
Sweet boxes and branded confectionery can work as small gifts, which helps the store beyond impulse purchases.
Eyewear fit
Frames should sit comfortably without pinching temples or slipping excessively.
UV protection
For sunglasses, proper UV protection matters more than fashion branding.
Why launch articles age quickly
Opening stories often contain phrases such as “new” and “coming soon”.
Months later, the useful update is whether the stores are still listed and what customers can currently expect.
Are both shops still listed?
Yes, Gloucester Quays’ current store directory includes Mr Simms and Brand Eyewear.
Conclusion
The two spring openings added very different reasons to visit Gloucester Quays.
Mr Simms brought a large nostalgic confectionery store, while Brand Eyewear introduced a specialist eyewear concept with designer brands and a lens-testing area.
Both remain part of the centre’s broader strategy to mix outlet shopping with food and leisure.
Sources and further reading
See Gloucester Quays’ current Mr Simms listing and SoGlos’ report on the 2026 openings.
Why the two openings complement each other
Mr Simms is an impulse-led, family-friendly retailer, while Brand Eyewear is a higher-consideration specialist purchase.
Having both broadens the reasons different shoppers might visit the centre.
Why experiential retail matters
The Lens Bar gives customers something they cannot fully reproduce through a basic online product page.
Similarly, traditional sweet-shop presentation relies on browsing, colour, smell and nostalgia.
Why shopping centres want experiences
Online retail is extremely efficient for known products.
Physical destinations compete by making browsing, eating and leisure part of the attraction.
Gloucester Quays’ waterside setting
The centre sits within Gloucester Docks, giving it a different character from a conventional out-of-town retail park.
That setting helps combine shopping with walking, restaurants and nearby attractions.
Why outlet centres attract day visitors
Customers often travel farther to an outlet because they expect several brands and discounts in one place.
Adding food and entertainment encourages them to stay longer.
The role of M&S Outlet
M&S is one of the centre’s established anchor names and sells clothing, home and beauty lines at outlet pricing.
Anchor stores help generate footfall that smaller retailers can benefit from.
Brand Eyewear’s 505 sq ft format
A compact specialist store can work well for eyewear because products are small and high-value compared with bulky categories such as furniture.
Why frame choice needs in-person testing
Face width, bridge fit, temple length and lens size affect comfort in ways that photographs cannot fully show.
Why sunglasses should carry proper UV protection
Dark lenses without adequate UV filtering are not equivalent to protective sunglasses.
Customers should buy products meeting appropriate standards rather than focusing only on tint.
Mr Simms and gifting
Traditional jars, novelty sweets and boxed confectionery can generate seasonal sales around Easter, Halloween and Christmas.
Why confectionery shops remain viable despite supermarkets
Specialist stores offer breadth, novelty and nostalgic products that large grocery aisles may not stock.
Dietary categories
Shoppers increasingly look for vegetarian, vegan, sugar-free or allergen-aware options.
Availability varies by product, so packaging should always be checked.
Why new openings matter to local retail confidence
A pair of store launches indicates retailers still see value in physical locations when the site offers enough footfall and a distinctive customer proposition.
Why the store directory is the best current check
Launch articles become outdated if a retailer later closes or changes hours.
For a current visit, the Gloucester Quays directory is more useful than the March opening announcement alone.
Shopping-centre strategy in 2026
Gloucester Quays continued adding restaurants and leisure concepts alongside traditional retail.
That mixture reflects a wider industry shift toward destinations rather than purely transactional shopping centres.
Why Gloucester Quays appeals to regional visitors
The centre sits within reach of the Cotswolds, Forest of Dean and wider Gloucestershire area, so it can attract both local shoppers and day visitors.
Why new brands matter for repeat visits
Outlet destinations depend on customers returning rather than visiting only once. New store openings give existing shoppers a reason to come back and see what has changed.
How Brand Eyewear differs from a standard fashion-accessory shop
Frames and lenses involve fit and technical choices as well as appearance. That creates more opportunity for staff advice and in-person comparison than a simple sunglasses rack.
Why children’s confectionery marketing needs care
Sweet shops are naturally attractive to families, but confectionery remains a discretionary treat. Parents can use portion size and frequency rather than treating a specialist sweet shop as an everyday food destination.
Why tourists may like the nostalgic format
Traditional British sweets can feel like a small cultural souvenir for visitors, particularly when products are displayed in jars and old-fashioned packaging.
Why current opening hours should always be checked
Retail hours can change seasonally, on bank holidays or during centre events. The official Gloucester Quays directory is the best source immediately before a visit.