News
Ashton’s Arcades Shopping Centre brought under public ownership
26th October 2026Tameside Council has acquired the Arcades Shopping Centre in Ashton-under-Lyne, Greater Manchester, from Fairacre Property. The 140,000 sq ft scheme is home to national retailers including Boots, Home Bargains, Peacocks, Greggs, and Costa Coffee. This follows Tameside Council’s acquisition of Ladysmith Shopping Centre, which sits adjacent to the Arcades Shopping Centre, from NewRiver REIT in May. Together, the acquisitions grant the local authority control of Ashton’s entire shopping centre provision, bringing almost 300,000 sq ft of space into public ownership. Both shopping centres are located next to the Grade II-listed Ashton Town Hall, which is being redeveloped by Tameside Council into a new cultural hub and workplace destination. They also overlook Market Square, which is set to open soon following a transformation to create a new covered outdoor market and over 100,000 sq ft of enhanced public realm for markets, street food, community use, and events. Tameside Council said the centres form an important part of its £1bn regeneration strategy, which includes repositioning Ashton as a well-connected and investable town. Its long-term plan for the town centre will look to strengthen and focus Ashton’s retail offer while creating space for new leisure, culture, homes and workspace. The Council has been […]
Deals
Disney to open first UK outlet store at Cheshire Oaks
23rd October 2026Disney is set to open its first outlet store in the UK at McArthurGlen Designer Outlet Cheshire Oaks in The Wirral this autumn. The new “Disney Store Pop Up” will span 1,300 sq ft and offer a mix of new and seasonal full-price products alongside discounted merchandise, multibuy promotions, and special offers. The assortment will include toys, apparel, accessories, stationery, plush, collectibles, and dress-up collections from brands such as Disney, Pixar, MARVEL, and Star Wars. The Cheshire Oaks pop-up store will join Disney’s wider UK and Ireland retail network, which includes its standalone stores on Oxford Street in London and Grafton Street in Dublin, as well as Disney Store locations inside Selfridges London, Selfridges Birmingham and Selfridges Manchester Trafford Centre. Patrick Sager, VP, Global Disney Store Retail & Marketing, said: “Outlet stores have been a successful part of our retail business around the world for several years. As the UK retail landscape and customer shopping habits continue to evolve, we’re excited to open our first UK Outlet store at Cheshire Oaks. “The Disney Store Pop Up will allow us to reach more Guests and offer a wider range of price points, helping more Guests bring home a little Disney wonder. By bringing together new and seasonal products, discounted […]
Requirements
Costa Coffee brews up further expansion
8th September 2026Costa 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”
23rd October 2026Landsec 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
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
Love Laura opens first ever standalone store at Northern Ireland’s The Boulevard
26th October 2026Love Laura has opened its first-ever standalone store at The Boulevard in Banbridge, Northern Ireland. The Irish womenswear label has opened in a 1,800 sq ft unit, offering the brand’s full collection which includes tailored blazers, coats, denim, knitwear, dresses, jumpsuits, nightwear, everyday basics, as well as footwear and accessories. The brand’s founder Laura Kearney began her retail journey in Banbridge in 2014, taking over a small boutique in the town and launching The Walk in Wardrobe. What started as a 500 sq ft shop has since grown into a 14,000 sq ft warehouse and a 3,000 sq ft flagship store, which offers products from the Love Laura line. The arrival of Love Laura at The Boulevard continues a run of landmark openings at the scheme, which in recent weeks has welcomed Crocs, Weird Fish, and Hollywood Bowl, with Hollister also due to open its first outlet store on the island of Ireland later this month. The Boulevard welcomed a number of brand firsts, with Kate Spade NY, IKEA, French Connection, Adidas, Levi’s, Vila, BPerfect, and TFG London among the retailers that chose it for their first or only location. Laura Kearney, founder of The Walk in Wardrobe and Love […]
