Southside Shopping Centre has welcomed five new retailers to its line-up in the run up to the festive season. The new retail offerings at the Wandsworth-based shopping centre include The Works, Library of Things, Acium Jewellery, Yaya Cakes and Calendar Club.

Family-friendly retailer The Works, has expanded its footprint in London offering Southside visitors an opportunity to browse its extensive selection of gifts, books, toys, games, and stationery. Known for inspiring creativity and play, The Works also features well-known names including Peppa Pig and Harry Potter, along with a fantastic choice of festive products at affordable prices.

Library of Things has also arrived at Southside providing a helping hand to ensure your home is in tip-top condition this Christmas. Through its partnerships with product manufacturers Bosh, Kärcher and STIHL, along with Wandsworth Council, the community-focussed social enterprise offers over 30 useful household, DIY and gardening items for hire. This initiative aims to reduce wasteful one-time purchases and help people save money by affordably renting out useful items like drills, sound systems and sewing machines for as little as a few pounds per day – promoting a ‘circular economy’ and foster skill-sharing within the community.

International steel jewellery brand Acium Jewellery has opened a kiosk, offering visitors a wide range of products, from the simplest jewellery to the latest international fashion trends. Regarded as the white gold of the 21st century within the jewellery sector, every product is meticulously crafted from hypoallergenic steel, known for its durability and reliable chemical composition. Embodying authenticity, individuality and flair, Acium provides a personalised touch to its jewellery, allowing visitors to customise their item with text or photo engravings to create a unique, sentimental piece.

Shoppers with a sweet tooth will be spoilt for choice as Yaya Cakes opens its second UK store. The South London-based boutique dessert shop specialises in classic primary school-favourite cakes, offering a huge range of indulgent desserts from caramel tarts to sprinkle cakes, coconut jam, chocolate chip shortbread and rocky roads. The new generation of bakers also create made-to-order cakes and confectionery, along with innovative edible art that reflect personalities, tell stories, and capture imaginations.

Returning this year, Calendar Club has been a popular stocking filler choice with its extensive range of calendars and diaries since it launched 22 years ago. Offering the UK’s largest range of organisers, including celebrity favourites, cutesy animals, and football club-branded calendars, along with planners, diaries, as well as gift ideas from stationery to books, this is the perfect pop up to find quality and affordable gifts for those who like to plan ahead this Christmas.

Alongside the new store openings, children’s soft play area, Kids Space has upgraded at Southside, providing an enhanced experience for families. Now located on the first floor next to KFC, Kids Space features a variety of exciting new additions including several specially designed role play areas to allow children’s imaginations run wild. Kids can be anything from a firefighter, builder, shop assistant or a captain on a ship, encouraging creativity and social interaction with one another.

Other interactive elements now available within Kids Space include several slides designed to add an extra thrill to the playtime experience, a fleet of push cars for young explorers to navigate the play area, and a ball pit where children can dive into a sea of soft, colourful balls. Additionally, visitors will also find a dedicated reading area filled with a range of books and toys, along with a sensory corner and an apple tree. Entry is £2 – £4 depending on the child’s age for 1.5-hour sessions, with free entry for children under 6 months.

Pieter Strömbeck, Centre Director at Southside Shopping Centre said, “We’re very excited to welcome such a diverse range of new names to Southside, giving shoppers even more choice in the run-up to the festive season. Each of these exciting brands add something unique to our already diverse line-up, ensuring shoppers can find everything they need under one roof for a stress-free Christmas shopping experience.”