TWO major high street retailers could quit Southampton’s biggest shopping centre.

Vintage fashion retailer Cath Kidston and card shop chain Clintons have both launched “reviews” into their units in Westquay.

It comes just weeks after River Island lodged plans for a new store in Above Bar Street – raising questions over the future of its current Westquay outlet.

In a statement, a spokesperson for Cath Kidston said: “We are always reviewing our store estate across the UK to ensure that the stores we have are in the right locations and on the right streets.

“As a brand, Cath Kidston rapidly expanded ten years ago and many of the leases for these stores are coming up for renewal.

“This means that we may have the opportunity to move these stores to a different street in the same city if we feel that would be beneficial for us and for our customers.”

Meanwhile, Clintons says it holds a long lease at Westquay and has “no immediate plans” to move its store.

The card company admitted it was carrying out a review of the unit – which is currently listed for rent at £250,000 per year.

But a spokesman for Clintons also reaffirmed the company’s commitment to the city.

He added: “We would never leave Southampton.

“We would never come out of that unit without having somewhere else to go.”

Last month, the Echo reported how British clothing giant River Island had lodged plans with civic chiefs to replace record shop chain HMV on Above Bar Street.

River Island’s current store, to which it moved in 2008, is a short distance away from its proposed Above Bar Street unit, raising doubt over its Westquay future.

Meanwhile, HMV confirmed in March its plans to leave the unit this year.

A HMV spokesperson said the company was “actively looking” at relocating to a new store in Southampton.

Last night, no one at Westquay was available for comment.