Westgate’s new boss to bring ‘world-class’ brands to Oxford

Clare Martin has taken over the position of centre director from Brendan Hatton who has moved on in the business after 25 years.

Mrs Martin has been at the Westgate since 2018, working in various roles including the deputy to the former boss.

An Oxfordshire local, she brings a wealth of experience in the retail, food and beverage, and leisure sectors to the role.

Westgate (Image: Westgate)

Speaking exclusively to this newspaper in her new role, Mrs Martin emphasised the importance of the Westgate being a “destination” rather than the traditional shopping centre.

“For Westgate, it’s about making it relevant to everybody,” she said.

“We have got a really broad retail offer, and that includes things like lifestyle and leisure – we’re a big destination.

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“And we’ve also got really unique USP here at Westgate such as the roof terrace, an extensive leisure offer. We’re building a really strong family offer like Lego which is thriving.”

Mrs Martin has been credited with being instrumental in bringing brands such as Sephora, The Beefy Boys and Flight Club to the city.

Clare Martin, Westgate’s new centre director (Image: Westgate)

Sephora, Lego, The Beefy Boys and Fight Club are all first venues in the city and Oxfordshire, with the new centre director aiming for the Westgate to bring “first-in-region offers”.

“You have got to come to Westgate to shop this sort of offer,” she added.

“They are unique and they’re good for the city because they bring people to Oxford who wouldn’t come otherwise.”

Community is also a focus for the new boss where “everyone is welcome”, she said, including hosting Pride, Sobell House Hospice’s 50th anniversary and the full takeover for Dancing Oxford.

Westgate also works with Aspire for accessibility, it supports local charities, sponsoring the Oxford Climate Awards and raising £1.7m in social value.

Over the decades, the Westgate has seen some significant change, not least the £440m facelift in 2017.

And Mrs Martin is hoping to make her own mark on the centre after 25 years of the former boss.

She said: “The centre is in a different position.

“Brendan saw it through a massive transition and a huge redevelopment phase, so that was his legacy.

“This is now my opportunity to drive it through that next future, and that is definitely about bringing world‑class brands to Oxford as well as to Westgate, definitely about delivering those big goals.

“I think we’re already better than Bicester Village, but we’re different to Bicester Village.

“And we have to have – a bit like the Covered Market or Gloucester Green – our unique identities and reasons for people to visit us.

“We don’t have to necessarily crossover. We can all celebrate success by being individual. I think that’s really important for a place like Oxford.”