News
Boux Avenue to second Manchester store at the Trafford Centre
22nd September 2025Boux Avenue is set to open a new flagship store at Manchester’s Trafford Centre this autumn. This news follows the opening of Boux Avenue’s new 2,765 sq ft store at Manchester Arndale last month, with the brand making its return to the city centre with under a 10-year lease. The British lingerie, nightwear, and swimwear brand will be doubling its size at the Manchester scheme, with the new store featuring new fitting rooms with concierge buttons and bespoke lighting options. Alex Paphitis, chief operating officer of Boux Avenue, said: “We’re excited to be almost doubling our space with this new unit. This comes off the back of a significantly strong sales performance over the past 18 months, not only in our stores, but also in our ecommerce channel and with our wholesale partners.” “As an ambitious business, we’re looking to grow and open further new store locations in key areas where we see demand is already high for the brand but where we do not as yet have a store presence.”
Deals
Regatta Great Outdoors to open multi-brand megastore at Junction 32
22nd September 2025Regatta Great Outdoors is set to open a megastore at Junction 32 in Castleford, Yorkshire, bringing the Regatta and Craghoppers brands under one roof. Opening in October, the store will span almost 5,000 sq ft and amalgamate the centre’s existing Regatta and Craghoppers units into one new concept store. The new outlet will feature new lighting and improved signage throughout. Marking the brand’s fifth Yorkshire store, the store will offer Regatta’s outdoor clothing brands for men’s, women’s and childrenswear, as well as camping and adventure products. The store will also include an extensive Craghoppers collection, which looks to fuse high-performance fabric technologies and practical designs. Rachel Scott, head of leasing at Global Mutual, said: “Regatta and Craghoppers are undeniably some of the UK’s most recognisable outdoor clothing brands, so we have no doubt that our visitors will be excited to explore the new store. With a prime location and an impressive square footage, this addition to our retail mix evidences the market’s enthusiasm for top-tier outdoor brands.”
Requirements
Cornish Bakery targeting South of England and Wales expansion
8th September 2025Cornish Bakery has released its latest requirements list as it looks to expand its presence across Wales and the South of England. The bakery operator is targeting affluent seaside towns, market towns and cities, outlet centres, and tourist locations. Cornish Bakery is looking for units ranging between 1,400 sq ft and 2,500 sq ft in high street locations, 1,800 sq ft and 3,000 sq ft in outlet centres, and 300 sq ft and 2,000 sq ft in tourist locations. Target locations include but are not exhaustive to: Towns/cities: Tourist locations: Outlets: Alma has been appointed to find suitable locations.
Insights
New research reveals three markets set to dominate UK retail
11th September 2025New research from data specialists CACI and leasing agency P-Three suggests that three key markets are set to dominate the UK retail market: beauty, footwear, and social wellness. According to the report, the beauty market is being transformed by three key movements: clean beauty; Korean beauty; and accessible luxury fragrance. This shift has been reflected in occupier demand, with premium brands like Le Labo and Byredo choosing Leeds for their debuts outside of London, while Charlotte Tilbury has launched new spaces in Covent Garden and Soho. CACI’s Brand Dimensions data correlates with these trends, showing a 15% spending increase in this market comparing June 2025 with the same month in 2023. It has also noted positive performance for brands with strong store acquisition plans, with PureSeoul (+86.5%), Space NK (+20.2%), Sephora (+14.9%), and Rituals (+33.7%) all benefiting from year-on-year sales growth as of June. Meanwhile, the footwear industry is experiencing a nostalgic revival, with brands such as Crocs, Uggs, and Birkenstocks regaining their popularity. Simultaneously, the athleisure movement has continued to grow, fuelled by ‘Gorpcore’ streetwear and sneaker culture. This is evidenced by recent openings in London from brands such as Salomon, On Running, and Saucony. As a result, some […]
News
Activate to open 10,000 sq ft leisure venue in Vauxhall
19th September 2025Activate has signed a lease for a 10,000 sq ft leisure venue in Vauxhall, London. In a deal brokered by Colliers’ licensed and leisure team, the active gaming experience has secured a 15-year lease at 61-62 Albert Embankment, located next to Vauxhall Station. The space spans two refurbished railway arches, formerly occupied by Metropolis Motorcycles. This signing marks another milestone in Activate’s UK rollout, following recent acquisitions in Oxford Street, Newcastle, Westfield White City, and its flagship at The O2 which opened at the end of 2024. The brand, operated by We Do Play, looks to blends physical gameplay and digital interaction to offer a new type of competitive socialising. Activate’s growth owned by We Do Play and is backed by Frasers Group, which recently invested in the business to support its national expansion strategy. Richard Beese, co-founder of We Do Play, said: “Vauxhall offers everything we look for, excellent transport links, a strong residential base, and a vibrant cultural scene. It’s a perfect home for Activate, and we’re excited to bring our experience to this community.” Paul Bugeja from Colliers’ licensed and leisure team, which acted for the landlord The Arch Company, added: “Activate choosing Vauxhall is a strong endorsement […]
