Latest Retail News

East Midlands retail park handed £11.75m price tag

15th April 2026

A retail park in Ilkseton in Derbyshire has been placed on the investment market with a price tag of £11.75m, reflecting a net initial yield of 7.75%. Waterside Retail Park provides approximately 67,941 sq ft of retail accommodation across seven units, let to tenants including M&S, Iceland, Argos, Halfords, Poundland, Jollyes, and Poundstretcher. The tenants have a weighted average unexpired lease term of 3.1 years and produce an annual passing rent of £971,788, equating to an average rent of approximately £14.30 per sq ft. The scheme, which is positioned in close proximity to the M1, also benefits from 317 customer car parking spaces. Ilkeston is a historic market town that has evolved into an important commuter hub for theEast Midlands. It is positioned eight miles west of Nottingham and 10 miles east of Derby, sitting at the heart of a dynamic regional belt drawing on a considerable and diverse regional catchment. Over 96,000 people live within a 10-minute drive time of Waterside Retail Park, with over 608,000 people living within a 20-minute drive time. Rosebury Real Estate has been appointed to find a suitable purchaser.

Hollywood Bowl identifies “strong” pipeline for new openings

15th April 2026

Hollywood Bowl has said it has identified a “strong new centre pipeline” for the 2027 financial year and beyond. The leisure operator – which has an estate of 77 UK sites – is also set to open two new locations in the UK in the second half of the current financial year. This comes as Hollywood Bowl releases a half year trading update for the six month period ending 31st March 2026. During this period, the operator reported revenue growth to £141.5m, up by 9.1% compared to the same period the year prior. UK total revenue was up by 9.4% year-on-year, to £118.4m. The group also opened a new location in Edmonton, Canada, bringing its total number of venues in the country to 16. Stephen Burns, chief executive officer of Hollywood Bowl, said: “The benefits of the investments made throughout the UK and Canadian estate, combined with proactive demand generation initiatives and disciplined cost management, are reflected in our strong H1 performance. Demand for high-quality, family leisure activities that offer great value for money also remains resilient in both territories, and our cash generative business model allows us to invest where we see opportunities and deliver profitable growth.”

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CitiVest acquires Soho mixed-use property

15th April 2026

CitiVest has acquired a mixed-use property on Poland Street in Soho, London. The property investment firm has acquired 15 Poland Street, W1. The four storey property comprises restaurant space on the ground floor and office accommodation across the upper floors. The asset is located on the eastern side of Poland Street, at the junction with Noel Street, in close proximity to Regent Street. The building was once home to the poet Percy Bysshe Shelley, who lived there in 1811. Welbeck Real Estate Advisors acted for CitiVest.

Deals

Angel Central to welcome new music venue and restaurant concept

15th April 2026

Angel 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 […]

PROPERTY OF THE WEEK

Completely Retail

Situated in the heart of Sale town centre, this unit occupies a prime position within Stanley Square. The shopping centre has undergone a transformation over the last five years into a thriving, modern scheme. The area has evolved into a premier destination, successfully serving the local community while attracting visitors thanks to its mix of independent retailers, diverse dining options, and a popular boutique cinema. Operators at Stanley Square include Boots, Northern Lights Cinema, Pure Gym, Joe & Co, Blanchflower, Flock, Pray Tell, Folie, Idaho, Petisco, The Works, and Solace Studio. The accommodation comprises the following areas:

Requirements

OKA unveils target locations as it eyes more UK stores

14th April 2026

British 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 2026

By 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 2026

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 […]

Korean beauty brand PURESEOUL to make East Midlands debut at Leicester’s Highcross

9th April 2026

Korean beauty brand PURESEOUL is set to open its first store in the East Midlands at Highcross in Leicester. The fast-growing retailer will take a 1,759 sq ft unit on the scheme’s lower mall, near Earnest Jones Jewellers. Opening in May, the new location joins PURESEOUL’s existing UK stores in cities such as Brighton, London, and Manchester. Also joining Highcross Leicester is footwear retailer Office, which will open in a 3,369 sq ft unit. Offering leading global brands alongside its own in-house collections, Office makes its return to the scheme, having been a tenant until 2021. Michelle Menezes, Centre Director at Highcross Leicester, said: “We’re delighted to be welcoming PURESEOUL to Highcross, marking its official debut in the East Midlands. We’ve seen first-hand just how the K-beauty boom has swept through the UK, with consumers searching for tips on how to achieve ‘glass skin’ and ‘chok chok’—otherwise known as a dewy glow. So we’re excited to be able to bring that advice, and the innovative products, closer to home. “This, alongside the return of a household brand like Office, reaffirms our ambition to bring well-known names and trend-led retailers to the heart of Leicester. Beyond these arrivals, there’s plenty more...

News

Hotter steps back into Yorkshire’s Junction 32 outlet shopping centre

14th April 2026

Hotter has opened a new store at the Junction 32 outlet centre in Yorkshire, making its return to the scheme after six years. Spanning 1,507 sq ft, the British footwear retailer’s new space marks its re-entry into the outlet retail channel. It will offer a range of comfort-led footwear and lifestyle products for men and women, including shoes, sandals, boots, trainers, and slippers. The return of Hotter comes as Junction 32 continues to evolve its brand mix, welcoming a range of brands to the centre with further openings planned in the coming month. This momentum is underpinned by a strong 2025 performance, with footfall up 3% year-on-year and sales increasing by 4%. Rachel Scott, head of leasing at Global Mutual, said: “We’re delighted to welcome back Hotter to Junction 32 as the brand launches its first return to the outlet market. As a well-established British footwear brand known for quality and comfort, Hotter is a strong addition to our retail mix, further enhancing the selection of brands available at the centre.” Rachel Rimmer, marketing director at Hotter, added: “The return of our Junction 32 outlet store represents an important step in Hotter’s wider retail strategy as we continue to evolve how and […]

More Latest Retail News

Waitrose steps up investment into store estate

14th April 2026

Waitrose is set to grow its store estate with the opening of a new store in Ascot, Berkshire, and the expansion of its franchise partnership with Welcome Break. Scheduled to open this autumn, the 3,000 sq ft Ascot store will occupy a former bank on the town’s High Street offering groceries and on-site parking. Meanwhile, the supermarket retailer will also expand on its existing franchise relationship with roadside operator Welcome Break, opening four new stores. Two of these stores are already open at service stations near Peterborough and Bodmin, Cornwall, bringing Waitrose’s presence to 33 Welcome Break sites nationally. Further openings are scheduled at stations near Spalding and Whitely, in the coming months. Last month, Waitrose invested into the refurbishment of five supermarkets in Haslemere, Barnet, Chiswick, Ruislip, and Menai Bridge, as well as two convenience stores in Knutsford and Muswell Hill. In total, 30 Waitrose stores across the country will be refurbished this year as part of a £1bn, multi-year investment programme. Alun Jones, head of physical estate at Waitrose, said: “Our new Ascot store and expanded partnership with Welcome Break strengthens our physical retail presence alongside the acceleration of our store refurbishment programme. Whether it’s a restaurant-quality dinner for […]

Sale and leasebacks drive surge in supermarket investment

13th April 2026

The UK foodstore investment market recorded approximately £1.87bn of capital transactions in 2025, driven by an increase in sale-and-leaseback activity, according to Colliers’ latest UK Grocery Report. This was up from £1.29bn in 2024 and ahead of both the five and ten year averages of £1.59bn and £1.52bn, respectively. The report found that the increase in sale-and-leaseback activity from Asda and Morrisons, which are using the capital raised to reduce leverage, as well as Lidl, which is funding its store expansion. Altogether, around £943m of sale and leaseback deals in five portfolios were completed, close to the £1.01bn recorded in 2023. Institutions and real estate investment trusts led buying activity, at 51% and 34% respectively, amid a constrained supply of prime stock. On the operator side, Asda emerged as the most traded grocer, responsible for 31% of all deals, while Tesco acquired £127.8m of its own stores – including two of the five largest single asset deals in 2025. Mark Girling, executive director at Colliers, said: “Supermarkets again proved to be amongst the UK’s most sought after secure income real estate in 2025. With nearly £1.9 billion traded and buyers skewed to institutions, private capital and REITs, the sector’s defensive, often...

Greggs looks for new sites in expansion push

13th April 2026

Greggs has released its latest property requirements list as it looks to continue its nationwide expansion. The grab-and-go food operator – which acquired 100 new shop locations in 2025 – is seeking leasehold units with a minimum area of 900 sq ft. The UK-wide requirement includes both in-town units, located on high streets and within shopping centres and travel hubs, as well as out-of-town locations situated within retail parks, roadside and industrial lots, and business parks. Locations within supermarkets and suburban parades will be considered. Greggs is also looking to continue expanding its drive-through estate. This comes as Greggs looks to open around 120 net new stores in 2026, despite recording a decline in profits in 2025. The operator – which operates around 2,700 locations – said in March that it saw potential for over 3,000 UK stores in the long-term, having identified a “strong pipeline of attractive opportunities”. Greggs will also trial its smaller ‘bitesize Greggs’ format to meet greater demand in areas with limited space.
News Requirements

Agents appointed to transform Kensington High Street block into lifestyle hub

13th April 2026

Retail, leisure, and placemaking agency P-Three has been appointed as sole letting agent at 176-206 Kensington High Street, London by Knight Frank Asset Management on behalf of a private client. The asset comprises 57,000 sq ft of retail space across 15 retail units across both ground and lower ground floors, offering 105 metres of frontage onto Kensington High Street. P-Three has been tasked with delivering long term rental growth, driving footfall and dwell time, and creating a defined sense of identity for the block. P-Three said its strategy will focus on repositioning the asset as a lifestyle-led location with a tenant mix that focuses on active, everyday living that serves local residents, office workers and park users, complementing the core high street offering. The firm will look to build on the area’s existing specialist sports retail, travel, fitness and wellness operators with high quality cafés and health-led food outlets. Kensington High Street is underpinned by a wealthy residential catchment and substantial daytime footfall. High Street Kensington station records approximately 12 million passenger movements annually, with around 23,000 office workers located within a half-mile radius. The area has enjoyed positive leasing momentum over recent years, with retailers such as Lululemon, Mango, […]
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