The Pokemon Center pop-up store returns to London ExCel next week

Get ready for Brexit Pikachu

Dig out your best crowd-fighting paraphernalia, as The Pokemon Company has announced that its staggeringly popular Pokemon Center London is returning to the British capital next week — From April 14-16, 2023, fans of the cuddly critters will have to opportunity to bag themselves exclusive merchandise, from clothing to plush toys, available only at the “pop-up” retailer.

The Pokemon Center London has appeared twice before within the city’s walls, firstly during the fall of 2019, where poor planning and understated demand saw fans queuing for up to five hours daily to bag themselves shirts, hats, bags and, the centerpiece of the store, a plush doll of Pikachu dressed up as a Little City Gent. Following a postponement in 2020, (amidst the burgeoning COVID-19 pandemic), the pop-up store eventually returned in the summer of 2022, running alongside the Pokemon World Championships.

If you fancy making the trip to next week’s opening, then you’ll need to book yourself a timeslot over on the store’s official website. This virtual queuing system hopes to eliminate the chaos of the 2019 event, though it should still be noted that merchandise will likely be sold on a first-come, first-served basis, with the more exclusive items selling out in double-quick time. You can just turn up on the store’s opening days without warning, but you might find that you have to hang around for a little while before giving appropriate entry.

The Pokemon Center London is located at ExCeL London arena, and will be open from April 14 to April 16.