Sutton's Idlewells Shopping Centre to remain open despite auction

Idlewells Shopping Centre will be auctioned at Acuitus on December 12, with an expected selling price between £3.25 million and £3.5 million.

The site originally opened as an open-air market in November 1971. It has been a part of the community for 53 years.

Site managers, Davlea Estates, have confirmed that the site will continue to operate as a shopping centre, despite some confusion among customers regarding the news of its auction.

The Market Street shopping centre, spanning over 150,000 square feet in Sutton, features 40 retail units, three kiosks, a café, a market hall, and a modern multi-story car park with 250 spaces.

Occupiers of the centre include JD Sports, B&M, Specsavers, Greggs, Scriven's, Boots, Superdrug, Vodafone, Holland & Barrett and Peacocks.

The Acuitus auction will take place on December 12, at 1pm and will be broadcast via livestream on the Acuitus website with bidding online, by telephone and by proxy.

Operations at the site will continue as normal, and shoppers can expect festivities to run as planned.

For more details, visit www.facebook.com/Idlewells.

One of the main seasonal events entails a free Santa’s Grotto for children on every Saturday and Sunday in December from 10am-2pm.

The event includes photo opportunities and gifts.

Adult supervision is required, and attendance is subject to availability and demand, so visitors may need to queue.

Additionally, late-night shopping will be available every Wednesday until 8pm from now until Christmas.

There will also be a Christmas craft fair on Saturday, December 14.