News
Manchester Arndale to welcome relocated Neal’s Yard Remedies store
16th April 2026Neal’s Yard Remedies is set to open a new store at Manchester Arndale shopping centre after agreeing a 10-year lease for a 873 sq ft unit. The wellbeing brand will relocate from its existing Manchester store on King Street, taking over the current Claire’s store. At its new store, Neal’s Yard Remedies – which was founded in 1981 in London’s Covent Garden – will offer a range of skincare, bath and body products, essential oils, herbal remedies, beauty and wellness gifts. The space will look to provide customers with a sensory retail environment where they can receive personalised wellbeing advice. The arrival of Neal’s Yard Remedies at Manchester Arndale follows a successful period of new signings across retail, leisure and F&B at the scheme, which has welcomed the likes of Arc’teryx, Pro:Direct, Sephora, XF Gym, Hotel Chocolat, and, most recently, Wingstop. Scott Linard, portfolio manager for M&G Real Estate, said: “We are delighted to welcome Neal’s Yard Remedies to Manchester Arndale. Securing a 10-year commitment from such a respected and established brand, particularly as it relocates from the renowned King Street, is a major endorsement of the strength of our offer. Signing on the heels of Wingstop UKI and a trio […]
Deals
Angel Central to welcome new music venue and restaurant concept
15th April 2026Angel Central in Islington is set to welcome the arrival of new music venue and restaurant concept Soul Mama for its second location in London. Launched by musician and broadcaster YolanDa Brown OBE DL and music manager and creative entrepreneur Adetokunbo “T” Oyelola, Soul Mama has signed for a 3,926 sq ft unit on the scheme’s first floor with a 1,500 sq ft terrace. Located adjacent to the newly-opened Søstrene Grene store, Soul Mama looks to blend the culinary traditions of Africa, the Caribbean, and South America in a celebration of food, music and culture. Simon Prince, asset manager at CBRE Investment Management, said: “Soul Mama will be a key addition to Angel Central, diversifying an already vibrant line-up of retail and F&B brands. This unique concept provides an amazing audience experience, reflected by its popularity and expansion. It will be a musical hub on the first floor, driving footfall, encouraging all-day visitation and bringing new visitors to the centre.” The signing of Soul Mama follows the recent opening of Søstrene Grene at Angel Central. The brands join retailers such as Uniqlo, Mango, H&M, KIKO, and L’Occitane, as well as F&B operators such as Wagamama and Itsu and the experience-led […]
Requirements
OKA unveils target locations as it eyes more UK stores
14th April 2026British furniture and lifestyle retailer OKA has released its latest property requirements list as it looks to expand across the UK. The retailer is seeking units ranging between 2,500 sq ft and 5,000 sq ft in size, preferably in high street or roadside locations. Ideal units will have car parking available nearby. Target locations include: CBRE has been appointed to find suitable locations.
Insights
Rethinking healthcare delivery: the case for retail parks in easing NHS pressure
10th April 2026By Lauren Chew, senior asset manager at Redevco Pressures on NHS services are well recognised and have prompted an important conversation about how care can be delivered more effectively, accessibly and closer to people’s daily lives. While demand continues to outpace traditional capacity, recent evidence shows that when primary care access is limited, patients often look elsewhere for support. The Care Quality Commission’s State of Care report (October 2025) highlighted this system-wide impact, noting that 6.6% of respondents to the 2025 GP Patient Survey attended A&E because they were unable to contact their GP or were uncertain about next steps. Together, these insights underline the opportunity, and necessity, to innovate beyond conventional healthcare settings and rethink how and where services can best meet patient needs. Herein lies a key opportunity: retail parks are already embedded in everyday life. With high footfall, strong transport links and often free parking, they are uniquely placed to support public health by meeting people where they already are – offering a level of accessibility that many traditional healthcare settings struggle to match. Unlike clinical environments, which can feel formal or intimidating, retail parks are familiar and convenient spaces, making them ideal locations for healthcare initiatives, […]
Advice
Turn lease events from growing pains into commercial gains
10th March 2026By Simon Matley, director for dilapidations and occupier services at TFT After a period of acquisition, a large commercial retail portfolio can become either a major liability or a powerful cost saver for retailers who need every advantage they can get in a challenging consumer market. For national multiples and high street brands, often with sizeable portfolios numbering in the hundreds of units, or for smaller regional operations that are growing at speed, flexibility and control are hugely important. Brands today are adapting their portfolios in light of changing consumer behaviour and omni-channel retailing, and this is shaped by the increasingly sophisticated data capture that allows them to better understand stock, fulfilment, customer behaviour, and operations. For many who have been acquiring premises over the past 10 years, they will almost certainly find that data allows them to be more efficient in the space they need, not least because of the growth of last mile logistics and on demand deliveries which enables occupiers to be nimble in how they use their spaces. Whether they operate on the high street, in retail parks or rely on distribution centres, retailers want to scale fast, explore new territory and snap up the right […]
News
The Haberdashers’ Company appoints property management firm across Central London portfolio
16th April 2026The Haberdashers’ Company has appointed commercial property management firm MAPP to manage a retail and office portfolio in Central London. The instruction covers a range of assets including a freehold interest in Gresham Street near St Paul’s, retail units on West Smithfield close to the historic market, and 25–27 Hosier Lane in Farringdon, a 20,000 sq ft office building currently undergoing a refurbishment. The portfolio hosts a diverse retail mix, including a nursery and premium food operators, alongside modern office accommodation in a prime Smithfield location. Under the appointment, MAPP will look to deliver a high-end, best value holistic suite of property management services focused on optimising asset and commercial performance, operational efficiency, and occupier experience. The service will bring together specialist teams spanning property and facilities management, occupier engagement, accounting, community-building initiatives, building consultancy, and technology solutions. The mandate marks MAPP’s continued growth within the livery company sector, following its mandate with the Girdlers’ Company in 2025. The Haberdashers’ Company is a modern philanthropic organisation with over 1,000 members. Last year, the group distributed over £5.6m to support its charitable purpose of empowering young people from all backgrounds through school and community partnerships across the UK. Louise Bonham, chief executive of MAPP, said: “We are delighted to be […]
