A long-standing stopping centre in Maidenhead closed its doors today (Tuesday) ahead of demolition and a major regeneration.

The Nicholsons Centre is set to be re-developed into a mixed-use scheme featuring shops, restaurants, offices, hundreds of flats and a new multi-storey car park.

The £500million Nicholson Quarter development, being undertaken by Areli and Tikehau Capital was given conditional approval by the Royal Borough during a meeting last November, after the decision was deferred at a meeting in October.

Following a series of letters from management agents KLM Asset Partners, in March tenants of the shopping centre were informed that the centre would be closing permanently on Tuesday, June 9.

The old Nicholsons Brewery, which closed in 1961, was formerly at the site of the shopping centre before it was built.

The centre has been serving the company for decades and has featured a range of stores over the years.

This has included businesses such as Waterstones, Clarks, H&M, Topshop, Superdrug, TGJones and Iceland.

The two-storey Café Giardino also once welcomed customers in the central precinct.

Stores first started moving out of the centre towards the end of last year, with many leaving in the last few months, weeks and days.

While some have moved to alternative locations in the town centre, others are either still searching for another premises or have left the town altogether.

Last week, long-serving Nicholsons Centre manager Jane Wright told the Advertiser that it has been an honour to have been at the helm of the centre for the last 28 years.

Areli's tenant and stakeholder newsletter dated June 2026, stated that John F Hunt Regeneration has been appointed as the demolition partner on the project.

The contractor will lead the demolition and site clearance works at the centre, the newsletter said.

A programme of works outlined in the newsletter stated that pre-start activities and investigations are currently underway.

This will be followed by asbestos works which are set to take place from early July to August.

The non-structural parts of the building are set to be removed between July and November.

Demolition is expected to begin in mid-August and will continue until the second quarter of 2027, when works are anticipated to be completed.

Over the next year, the focus will be on safe demolition, site clearance and preparing the site for future development.

The team will engage with the community through regular updates and clear communications channels.

Works will be carefully planned to minimise noise, dust, traffic and disruption, while maintaining safe access at all times, the newsletter said.

It added: "We are working with RBWM economic and growth team who will be hosting regular retail meetings throughout the year."