Liverpool ONE set for major sales boost due to Mother's Day and The Grand National

Liverpool ONE is gearing up for a major boost in sales as the city heads into two of its biggest spring events—Mother’s Day and the Grand National.

Liverpool ONE is forecasting a sales growth more than double the national average, setting the stage for a strong year ahead.

Beauty products are leading the charge, with the pre-Mother’s Day rush becoming the second busiest time of year for beauty retailers—only trailing behind Christmas. Last-minute shopping is a major driver, with sales expected to more than double on the Saturday before Mother’s Day compared to a typical weekend.

Restaurants are also seeing a significant uplift, with bookings for Mother’s Day on track to rival Valentine’s Day numbers for the first time.

Across the UK, spending for Mother’s Day is expected to hit £2.4 billion—up 5% from last year, according to GlobalData. But Liverpool ONE is outpacing the trend, projecting a 12% year-on-year increase in sales for the occasion. With less than a week separating Mother’s Day from the Grand National—something that hasn’t happened in six years—sales across beauty, fashion, and dining are expected to climb by more than 20% year-on-year during the days in between.

Donna Howitt, Place Strategy Director, said:

“Over the last few years, we have seen a huge uplift in spending around Mother’s Day, with very clear trends on where people are choosing to spend their money.

“Gifting at this time of year is still very much a priority for shoppers; however, we are certainly seeing a shift in the types of gifts and the motivation for buying those products with rising sales of beauty and self-care items.

“Of course, Grand National has always been a major milestone in Liverpool’s calendar – from fashion and beauty to dining, it’s an event that brings the city to life. But, when held in such proximity to Mother’s Day, it provides an incredible boost for brands in the city, making this period extra special.”

To mark the Grand National and its influence on the city’s style and spirit, Liverpool ONE has launched a special headwear exhibition in partnership with fashion communication students from Liverpool John Moores University. On display on Paradise Street through May, the exhibit highlights Liverpool’s iconic hat culture—from dockers’ flat caps and Beatles-style mariner caps to LFC bobble hats and the statement fascinators of Ladies Day.

Adding to the excitement, Liverpool ONE will soon welcome global retail heavyweights Sephora and Uniqlo, both set to open this spring. Their arrival is expected to fuel even more growth for the destination in the months ahead.

Jacqueline McAssey, Senior Lecturer at LJMU, said:

“This project has enabled our students to explore the history and the heritage of headwear within our city, looking into the evolution of trends throughout the years and how we have carried forward styles into the present day.

“We’re excited to unveil our exhibition and delighted to be part of Liverpool ONE’s storytelling.”

Now, Liverpool ONE is preparing to welcome global brands such as beauty giant Sephora and international clothing favorite Uniqlo, both set to launch in Spring, which are expected to drive further growth.

Donna Howitt, Place Strategy Director at Liverpool ONE, said:

“Working with local university students is a fantastic way of showcasing the skills within our city region, while paying homage to the heritage, culture and Liverpool’s distinctive identity.

“This exhibition brings together fashion, music and the character of our city, a blend at the heart of Liverpool ONE’s identity. This collaboration is part of a packed schedule of events during one of the strongest pipelines of store openings in years.”