Sports Direct is coming back to Worksop. The retailer will open a new 6,000 sq ft store inside the Priory Centre in the next few weeks, creating more than ten jobs and giving the town centre a visible vote of confidence at the same time as the £20m redevelopment is underway around it.

At a glance

  • Retailer: Sports Direct (returning to the Priory Centre)
  • Store size: 6,000 sq ft
  • Opening: “In the next few weeks” (announced 30 April 2026)
  • Jobs: More than 10 new positions
  • Brands stocked: Nike, adidas, PUMA, Skechers among others
  • Wider context: Comes during ongoing £20m demolition and rebuild of the Priory Centre

What is happening

Bassetlaw District Council has confirmed Sports Direct will reopen at the Priory Centre, taking on a 6,000 sq ft unit and creating more than ten new jobs. The retailer is one of the largest mainstream sports brands on the UK High Street and previously traded from the same shopping centre.

The new store will stock major sportswear labels including Nike, adidas, PUMA and Skechers, and the council says it expects the store to open within the coming weeks.

Why it matters

The announcement lands at a significant moment for the Priory Centre. Structural demolition of part of the centre is currently under way, with the existing 1960s mall being dismantled to make way for a new leisure-led building featuring a climbing wall, indoor adventure play, bowling alley and dining.

For the council, securing a national-name retailer ahead of the new build is a useful proof point that the £20m project is attracting tenants – not just removing them. For traders inside and around the Priory, it suggests footfall is expected to build through the rest of the year, rather than fall off as demolition continues.

Council reaction

Cllr Steve Scotthorne, Bassetlaw District Council’s Cabinet Member for Identity, Planning and Place, welcomed the announcement, describing it as a boost for the centre and saying he was confident the move would help draw further businesses to the redevelopment.

The wider picture

Sports Direct’s return is part of a broader rebuild of the Priory Centre being delivered by Bassetlaw District Council, funded largely through the previous Conservative government’s Levelling Up Fund. Demolition is being carried out by main contractor G F Tomlinson and is scheduled for completion in May 2026, with construction of the new building expected to follow on directly.

Spotted other shops moving in or out of the Priory Centre? Tip us off at tips@worksopwire.co.uk.