Lakeside in Focus: A monthly blog from our centre manager

Each month, Lyndsey Parry – centre manager at Lakeside Village Outlet Shopping – shares her views and reflections on life at the centre. This month she is looking back at 2024, a year with major milestones for her both professionally and personally.

To say that this year has flown by would be a total understatement, it seems like only a week ago that I was returning to work from maternity leave, and we were planning our summer activities.

Christmas is one of my favourite times of the year, it is lovely to see people bustling about, picking up presents for loved ones and catching up with friends over coffee. We always do all we can to ensure everyone gets some Christmas cheer and we’re a drop-off point for Mission Christmas, which aims to ensure every child gets a gift at Christmas.

I also love this time of year as it gives you the chance to look back on what’s happened in your life and what you’ve achieved and what a year 2024 has been! I've picked out three highlights that have made this journey truly special.

A wild first year of motherhood

My little one has just turned one, and what a whirlwind it's been! We celebrated with a huge BBQ, surrounded by family and friends. Watching her personality bloom has been incredible - even when she's being a cheeky little monkey!

Celebrating a record-breaking quarter at Lakeside Village

I'm incredibly proud of our team for delivering an exceptional Q3. We broke sales records in July, August, and September, and welcomed two fantastic new stores - Carvela and Menkind. Our free summer entertainment with the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, including cinema screenings, crazy golf, and wildlife trails, created an amazing atmosphere for our shoppers.

From deputy to centre manager

After 13 dedicated years at Lakeside Village, ?I was thrilled to step into the role of Centre Manager. This centre means everything to me - it's not just a shopping destination, but a clean, safe, and friendly community space. I'm committed to driving success, developing the centre and creating exceptional experiences for our visitors.

Here's to more exciting adventures in 2025! ??