News

Independent gym agrees 10-year lease at Salford’s Middlewood Locks

An independent gym operator has signed a 10-year lease to open at Middlewood Locks, the £1bn mixed-use development at the gateway between Salford and Manchester city centre. Forged will take a 4,700 sq ft unit at the development for its first-ever space, which will open in January 2027. The operator has been established by Sam Benjamin, a resident at Middlewood Locks, who also owns Tap House in Manchester and bars in Nottingham. The unit forms part of Railings, the recently completed third phase of homes and commercial space at Middlewood Locks. The phase includes four units totalling nearly 10,000 sq ft. Further occupiers within Railings are expected to be announced soon. The privately-owned and operated gym supports Middlewood Locks’ approach to attracting independent businesses and will complement existing amenities, including the Co-op convenience store and 92 Degrees coffee shop. Sam Benjamin, founder of Forged, said: “Having lived at Middlewood Locks for the past two years, I recognised the opportunity to establish a high-quality gym serving both residents and the surrounding neighbourhood. Forged brings together my commitment to fitness and healthy living with my sporting background and experience in hospitality. “Our aim is to provide a dedicated strength-training environment, with high-quality […]

Deals

Sheffield’s Heart of the City adds Wingstop to F&B lineup

Wingstop is set to join Sheffield’s Heart of the City after agreeing a 15-year lease for a two-storey, 3,767 sq ft space at the shopping destination. Working alongside asset management partner RivingtonHark, Sheffield City Council has announced that the chicken wing restaurant will join the destination’s expanding mix of bars and restaurants, including The Botanist, Pret A Manger, Marmadukes, Bird and Blend, Box, and Cambridge Street Collective. The arrival of Wingstop follows the recent letting to Urban Outfitters, which joined the likes of Superdry, Fjallraven, Sostrene Grene, Weekend Offender, and Lucy & Yak at the Heart of the City. The 1.5m sq ft flagship regeneration project has transformed Sheffield city centre into a concentration of shops, bars, cafes, restaurants, experiences, apartments, townhouses, and over 300,000 sq ft of occupied workspace. Councillor Fran Belbin, leader of Sheffield City Council, said: “We’re delighted to welcome Wingstop to Sheffield and to see another internationally recognised brand choosing Heart of the City as its new home. “This is another great vote of confidence in Sheffield city centre and in the transformation that has taken place over recent years. A recognisable name such as Wingstop will help to attract even more people into the city […]

Requirements

Costa Coffee brews up further expansion

Costa Coffee has unveiled its latest property requirements as it looks to continue its expansion across England, Scotland, and Wales. The coffee shop chain, working with its long-standing partner Savills, is looking to open new locations in retail parks and shopping centres, as well as on high streets and within travel locations. Costa Coffee is also looking to open drive-through units in out-of-town retail locations. Ideal units will range in size between 1,250 sq ft and 2,200 sq ft and be located adjacent to foodstores, retail warehousing, and leisure space. Within retail parks, Costa is seeking units ranging between 1,500 sq ft and 2,500 sq ft in size with external seating. Freestanding or in-line units will be considered, with nearby car parking a necessity. Ideal units will be situated in out-of-town locations with significant traffic flow, adjacent to foodstores, and retail and leisure clusters. In high street and shopping centre destinations, Costa is looking for units between 1,500 sq ft and 2,500 sq ft with outside seating. Locations such as universities, hospitals, and leisure destinations will also be considered. The operator is also looking to open new sites within travel locations such as transport hubs and train stations with significant […]

Insights

Q&A: Landsec’s portfolio director Clare Dutton: “we’re investing a lot into retail”

Landsec is investing big in retail. The real estate investment trust recently snapped up the 1.86m sq ft Metrocentre shopping centre in Gateshead, and earlier this year touted major retail as a “more attractive” sector than office or residential development. In addition, Landsec has welcomed a number of ‘firsts’ to its portfolio: Garage opened its first store in the UK in Bluewater, while at Liverpool ONE, Lefties made its UK debut and Salomon opened its first store outside of London. As demand for prime shopping centre space creeps up, how does Landsec pick the right brands for the right spaces? Completely Retail News caught up with portfolio director Clare Dutton to discuss the landlord’s approach to selecting new tenants, which retailers are the most acquisitive, and the role of physical retail within shopping centres: How does Landsec identify the brands it wants to attract to its shopping centres? “We’re close to the market, so we know of the new brands that are acquisitive. We also have a lot of data, because we reach one in every two consumers in the UK, in respect to things that our customers are looking for. “So it’s a combination of knowing who’s in the […]

Advice

Turn lease events from growing pains into commercial gains

By 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

Virgin Atlantic Holidays and M&S continue partnership with new store at Westfield London

Virgin Atlantic Holidays and Marks & Spencer are expanding their partnership with the opening of a new concession at M&S in Westfield London. Opening in December 2026, the new concession will enable customers to plan and book a Virgin Atlantic Holiday while visiting one of London’s leading shopping destinations. Travel experts will be available in-store to offer personalised advice and help customers create long-haul holidays tailored to them. The expansion supports Virgin Atlantic Holidays’ ambition to grow its presence in London and reach more of the capital’s leisure travellers. It also follows the recent announcement of a new Virgin Atlantic Holidays flagship store at Battersea Power Station. Dave Geer, chief commercial officer at Virgin Atlantic, said: “We’re really excited to build on our partnership with Marks & Spencer bringing Virgin Atlantic Holidays to even more customers in London. “M&S is a brand people know and love, and this new concession gives customers another convenient way to start thinking about, planning and booking their next holiday.  Our travel experts can help customers go beyond simply choosing a destination – sharing their knowledge and recommendations to create a holiday that really makes the most of every moment, whether that’s a Maldives escape, […]