News
Kookaï and K-Way fashion Carnaby Street openings
15th May 2026Kookaï and K-Way have opened the doors to their new stores on Soho’s Carnaby Street, bolstering the destination’s fashion offering. Occupying 1,800 sq ft, Australian womenswear brand Kookaï has launched its debut permanent UK location at 37 Carnaby Street, following success across Australia, New Zealand and Europe. Meanwhile, K-Way has made its West End debut at 26-27 Carnaby Street. The 14,00 sq ft flagship marks a key stage of expansion for the retailer, which already has a presence across Western Europe. The new store stocks a range of outerwear and accessories for men, women, and children. Both openings build on a number of debuts on and around Carnaby Street, including the latest addition, Edikted, as well as TALA and ALOHAS. Kookaï and K-Way will be joined by Spanish streetwear brand Eme Studios, which has signed for its UK debut at 57 Carnaby Street. William Oliver, director of retail and restaurant leasing at Shaftesbury Capital, said: “Both Kookaï and K-Way are great additions to Carnaby Street, bringing something distinct that will resonate with our visitors and contribute to the street’s constant evolution. Carnaby Street’s mix of best-in-class retailers sets it apart from other retail destinations across the UK – welcoming firsts […]
Deals
The Entertainer to open largest store in over a decade at Hatfield’s Galleria
14th May 2026The Entertainer is set to open its largest store in over a decade later this month at The Galleria outlet centre in Hatfield. The 8,000 sq ft space will be the toys and games retailer’s first to trade under its new sub-brand “The Entertainer, Toys for Less”. It will stock products from brands including Pokémon, One Piece, Toy Story 5, Paw Patrol and Barbie, with the majority selling for 30% less than in the retailer’s other stores. The Entertainer will join a number of leading brands at The Galleria including M&S, Le Creuset, and Waterstones. Andrew Murphy OBE, group chief executive officer of The Entertainer, said: “Our Toys for Less outlet store in Hatfield will be our biggest new store for over a decade and is an important extension to our existing trading approach. While there will be further Toys for Less stores opening later this year, these are very much complimentary to our 150-strong core estate and will not replace them or compete in our existing catchments.” Graham Clark, leasing director at The Galleria Hatfield, added: “We’re delighted to welcome The Entertainer to The Galleria. This exciting new outlet store is a fantastic addition to our retail mix, bringing a much-loved family brand to […]
Requirements
Toolstation eyes new sites as it looks to expand London and South East estate
22nd April 2026Toolstation has released its latest property requirements list as it looks to expand its store estate across Greater London and the South East. The trade supplies retailer is seeking units on high streets and trade parks ranging between 2,000 sq ft and 5,000 sq ft in size, located in prominent and visible roadside locations. Ideal units will be situated in easily accessible locations, with access to parking and loading bays essential. Target locations include: GCW has been retained to find suitable locations.
Insights
The Gym Group on plans to open 75 new sites: “We’re open to as many opportunities as we can find”
11th May 2026The Gym Group is “open to as many opportunities as we can find”, says the group’s chief property officer Hamish Latchem, as the operator targets 75 new sites over the next three years. The chain has been steadily increasing its footprint in recent years, having opened 16 new sites last year, up from 12 in 2024. This year, the group is looking to increase its year-on-year growth once again, with an ambition to open between 20 and 22 sites in 2026. “That indicates a clear increase in our aspirations for site openings”, Latchem tells Completely Retail News, “it all ties into our wider strategy.” The Gym Group – which operates over 260 locations across the UK – is working with its retained agent Savills to find suitable units across the UK. Latchem, who was previously national store development director at Aldi, says there’s “no one distinct area” the operator is specifically targeting: “We have such a good mix in our portfolio, including retail parks, mixed-use schemes, and all of these are performing really well for us. We’re open to any of those opportunities, our model is incredibly flexible. “We would love to be on more retail parks and it would […]
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
Landsec: major retail “more attractive than office or residential”
15th May 2026Landsec has said that “major retail remains more attractive than office or residential development”. In its final results for the year ending 31st March 2026, the real estate investment trust (REIT) said that growing its investment into major retail destinations remains its highest conviction call, citing high income yields and the attractive income growth on offer “for the right assets”. The REIT said that although it had assessed acquisition opportunities over the past twelve months, it chose not to progress any acquisitions during the year but remains “active in assessing future opportunities”. The group also highlighted over £3bn of assets in the hands of parties “who are not natural long-term owners which will likely come to market in the next year or two.” Landsec also said that occupational markets for retail “continue to be characterised by two well established trends: a significant concentration of demand on the very best space coupled with heavy constraints on new supply.” Over the course of the year, Landsec recorded a pre-tax profit of £346m, down from £393m the previous year. The REIT said its like-for-like net rent for the current financial year is expected to grow approximately 3 to 5%, with no signs of […]
