Which Intu shopping centres could be closing?

Shopping malls giant Intu which owns 17 stores across the UK has entered into administration.

Intu, which also runs Lakeside in Essex, said on Friday it has applied to appoint administrators from KPMG, after warning earlier on Friday that it was on the verge of collapse.

However, the company said its shopping centres will continue to trade for the time being despite its insolvency.

The group has struggled under a £4.5 billion debt burden for the past year, but has been hammered by significantly lower rent payments from retail tenants since the coronavirus outbreak.

Which Intu shopping centres could close?

Intu employs about 3,000 staff across the UK, while a further 102,000 work for the shops within its shopping centres.

One of it's most notable stores is Lakeside in West Thurrock, Essex.

After a significant expansion in 2004, Intu Lakeside became one of the largest shopping centres in Britain.

Scores of people queued inside the store when it reopened some of its shops in June.

Intu's centre in Manchester sits at the heart of Trafford city centre. The shopping mall giant says on its website that as many as 3,500 coaches pull up at the centre every year, with visitors generating a 29 million-strong annual footfall.

The Watford centre, formerly known as The Harlequin Shopping Centre has existed in Hertfordshire for around 30 years. The store is home to big brands including Apple, Kurt Geiger, MAC, Zara and Thomas Sabo.

Shoppers in Hillingdon could also see the closure of the Intu Uxbridge Centre.

The Uxbridge mall opened nearly 20 years ago in 2001 and is home to 71 shops, cafes and restaurants.

Intu also owns shopping centres in Braehead, Broadmarsh, Chapelfield, Metrocentre, Milton Keynes and Potteries..