POOLE'S latest shopping district, boasting ten 'hand-picked independent retailers', has opened to the public for the first time.

The Kingland development, at Kingland Crescent adjoining the Dolphin Shopping Centre, has been billed as a 'boutique shopping experience' and is part of ambitious plans to breath new life into Poole town centre.

Backed by The Dolphin Shopping Centre landlords, Legal & General, the ten new outlets will not have to pay any rent or business rates for the first two years.

And in time there are plans to hold a street market at Kingland with up to 20 independent vendors – and a programme of 300 local events.

Stores open today, Monday, April 12, include the following:

• HUX Custom Surfboards and Café – a custom surfboard and repair shop with cafe

• Grounded Coffee – a coffee shop with an on-site roaster

• PEN Gallery – a contemporary art gallery with additional store space for a curated mix of local artists and makers

• Restored Retro – a mid-century modern restored furniture shop

• Wild Roots – houseplants and interiors specialists

• Paintshop Studio – a creative design studio

• Ten Foot Naked – a zero waste grocery store

• Greenslade Fishmonger – local family business

• ånd Fragrance – a flagship store for renowned perfumer Simon Constantine

Viper Gin, a gin bar and shop, is set to open later this month.

Denz Ibrahim, head of retail and futuring at LGIM Real Assets, said: “We are really pleased to finally launch.

"After the many delays faced as a result of the pandemic, our locals can now enjoy and experience Kingland.

"It is great to see the hard-work and exciting plans come to fruition.

“Kingland is a physical manifestation of what can happen when you offer deliberately ambitious, bold, creative, standout brands – who are doing something a bit different – a platform to launch their ideas and share their stories.

"It will deliver a market-leading environment jam-packed with hand-picked brands, programmed events and content all sourced locally.

"It is a great example of our role as an editor of space, shaping environments to ensure we have the right content, at the right time, in the right places.”

Meanwhile, Hope Dean, director of new store Wild Roots, said: “Since getting the keys to my shop at Kingland it's been such a rollercoaster.

"Even though we haven't properly opened our doors, there already is such a huge sense of community spirit.

"I'm so excited to meet everyone in person that has purchased from us already through our click and collect service and to share everything that I've been working on behind the scenes with the public when we open on the 12th of April.”

Emma Rowland, director of Pen Gallery, said: “I am really looking forward to opening in Kingland alongside all the other retailers.

"This is such a unique initiative to be part of, to be opening a business amidst a pandemic – and I feel very lucky to be given this incredible opportunity.”

Legal & General says the redevelopment of Kingland Crescent is the first step in its long-term plans for the area.

Within the next 12 months, further units are set to open at the brand-new high street as part of the scheme’s next phase.

Legal & General is to also develop a street market at Kingland which will comprise 20 independent vendors.

Additionally, plans are already in progress to bring an annual programme of 300 local events to the new retail space.

The Dolphin Shopping Centre has extended its opening hours to aid the reopening of non-essential retail.

It will open 7.30am – 7:30pm, Mondays – Fridays, and 8am – 6.30pm, Saturdays and Sundays.

These extended times will be in place from Monday, April 12 – Friday, April 23 2021.

The opening hours will then resume to 8am – 6.30pm daily.