Costa Del Croydon, the bold, community-first activation at Centrale & Whitgift, has been recognised with two major international marketing awards.
It was praised for its creative way of bringing people together and making the shopping centre feel like a real part of the town.
The event won Bronze for Best Experience at The Drum Awards for Marketing EMEA 2025, competing against global brands including Canon, Sanofi, Dulux, TikTok Live and Tiffany & Co.
The initiative was also honoured with a Gold at the Solal Marketing Awards 2024 for Best placemaking, which recognises outstanding retail-led placemaking and retail destination marketing across Europe.
Judges from both awards praised Costa Del Croydon for being creative, bringing the community together, and turning an unused space into something fresh, welcoming, and important.
Dominique Stagg, Marketing Manager at Centrale & Whitgift, said: “These awards are incredibly special to us – not just as a team, but for Croydon as a whole.
“Costa Del Croydon was about more than just fun in the sun.
“It was about transforming space with purpose, making families feel welcome, and proving that a shopping centre can deliver real community value.
“To receive recognition from both The Drum and the Solal Awards is an honour – especially when sharing categories with such respected global brands.
“For once Croydon is being spoken about globally in a positive light and long may it continue into 2025 and beyond.”
The first Costa Del Croydon event in 2024 drew over 30,000 visitors and exceeded all expectations.
It included large sand and water play areas, community performances, street food vans, and daily free workshops for families.
Tuesdays were run in partnership with Croydon Voluntary Action (CVA), giving local groups a chance to lead activities and connect with the public.
The event also worked with the council’s Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme, providing access for 572 children from 12 local schools, helping make the event inclusive for families on lower incomes.
As well as having a strong social impact, Costa Del Croydon helped re-establish Centrale & Whitgift as a community-focused destination and gave Croydon a rare moment in the spotlight for all the right reasons.
The event returns this summer, running from August 1 to August 31 on the rooftop of Centrale.
Popular features like the splash zone, trampolines, mini go-karts and family bingo will be back, alongside new daily workshops including dance, toy-making, storytelling and traditional seaside games.
A fresh line-up of affordable food and drink stalls will also be announced soon, and visitors will again be welcome to bring their own food.
Organisers say the event is about more than just summer fun, but a chance to celebrate local creativity, community spirit and shared space.
