Latest Retail News

Autumn Budget: industry reacts as business rates threshold increased

28th October 2026

The Chancellor John Healey has laid out the Government’s plans for the economy in his inaugural Autumn Budget. Included in the proposals are changes to the way that business rates are applied to high street businesses. From April, the threshold at which high street shops begin to pay business rates will be increased from £12,000 to £18,000. This means that businesses would pay no rates on properties with a rateable value below this threshold. Adult game centres and vape shops will not qualify for this business rates relief. In addition, all proceeds from business rates will be held locally by the end of the decade, with mayors retaining 20% of the revenue from next year. Last year’s Budget saw an overhaul of business rates, including new business rates multipliers, revised relief provisions, and new support schemes. Industry figures have reacted to today’s announcement: Dan Parr, senior vice president at CACI, and chair of Revo, said: “Retail and leisure came into today’s Budget seeking relief from a cost base that has risen sharply over the past two years. The increase in the Small Business Rates Relief threshold will ease pressure for some, but many will be disappointed that policy didn’t extend a […]

LCP UK secures independent coffee shop at Hull’s Queens House

28th October 2026

LCP UK, part of M Core, has let 1-5 King Edward Street and 2-8 Paragon Street at Queens House in Hull to independent coffee shop operator Coffee House. The Cheshire-founded operator has taken a 10-year lease for the 2,660 sq ft unit, which occupies a former bank which has been split into multiple units. The store is due to open in December and is the fifth letting at Queens House since LCP UK acquired the scheme earlier this year. One other unit remains under offer, with two available to let out of a total of 39 at Queens House. Coffee House opened its first store in Lymm 15 years ago and has since grown to over 50 stores across the North, the Midlands, and Wales while remaining independent. The business serves speciality coffee, chilled drinks, homemade cakes, and food. Tom Percy, asset manager at LCP UK, part of M Core, said: “Coffee House has built more than 50 stores across the North, the Midlands and Wales on the strength of its product and its people, and it has done so as an independent business. That is exactly the kind of operator we want at Queens House. Taking the corner of...

News

M&S green-lit for return to Northwich

28th October 2026

Marks & Spencer has received planning approval to open a new food hall in Northwich, marking a return to the Cheshire town for the retailer. The retailer’s new store – which is being brought forward by Rothstone Estates Properties –will span 18,000 sq ft and offer M&S’ full product range, as well as an in-store bakery, dedicated flower and wine shops, and a click-and-collect point. It will also feature customer car and cycle parking, as well as electric vehicle charging points. The plans to develop the store have now been given the green light by Cheshire West & Chester Council. The store will be located on a currently vacant brownfield site within Northwich town centre, which will be redeveloped with landscaping and public realm improvements. The proposed site comprises a former highways depot and a section of the council’s Cumberland Street Car Park, located off Leicester Street.

Deals

Independent fashion brand to open outlet store at Dalton Park

26th October 2026

BADGE is set to open a new outlet store at Dalton Park Outlet & Outdoors in County Durham. The Hartlepool-founded independent fashion brand will take a 1,640 sq ft store at the outlet shopping destination, offering its range of curated brands that includes Stone Island, C.P. Company, Lacoste, BOSS, Armani, Sandbanks, and Moose Knuckles. The brand’s decision to open at Dalton Park marks an important stage of growth for the independent retailer, while also further strengthening the destination’s menswear offer with an additional selection of ladieswear and kidswear. BADGE’s arrival follows the opening of Belstaff earlier this year and demonstrates, as scheme owner Global Mutual looks to grow Dalton Park’s menswear category. Together, the two additions will increase the destination’s menswear footprint by 27.4% in 2026. Nicky Lovell, head of designer outlets and brand relationships at Global Mutual, said: “A compelling outlet offer is built through carefully considered adjacencies, bringing together brands that complement one another while giving customers a fresh reason to return. The arrival of BADGE demonstrates our strategy to build further depth within menswear, a category that continues to show strong appeal among Dalton Park customers. “Bringing an established independent North East retailer together with internationally recognised […]

PROPERTY OF THE WEEK

Completely Retail

The premises comprise a mid-terrace building arranged over basement, ground and three upper floors, fitted out as a karaoke and bar venue. The ground floor has the street entrance, reception desk and two karaoke rooms, with stairs to all floors. The basement is the main trading floor: a bar with loose seating, customer WCs (including an accessible WC) and stores, plus an external store at the rear. The first and second floors provide five further karaoke rooms, with WCs on the second floor. The third floor holds an office, staff facilities and a plant room opening onto a roof terrace. The fit-out suits a continued karaoke, bar or wider leisure use, subject to any necessary consents.

Requirements

Costa Coffee brews up further expansion

8th September 2026

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”

23rd October 2026

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

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 […]

Disney to open first UK outlet store at Cheshire Oaks

23rd October 2026

Disney 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...

News

Lindt to open third store in Scotland on Glasgow’s Buchanan Street

28th October 2026

Lindt is set to open its third store in Scotland on Glasgow’s Buchanan Street. The chocolatier’s new store – its 31st in the UK – will span 2,152 sq ft and join the brand’s existing Scottish locations in Livingston and Caledonia. The boutique store will offer Lindt’s signature pick & mix selection, which features over 30 different chocolate varieties, as well as the brand’s ‘Chocolate Bar experience’, offering Lindt CREMA GELATA ice cream, hot chocolate, and shakes. Lindt’s Buchanan Street store will also stock a range of exclusive gifts and personalisation options. Faythe King, retail, D2C and ecommerce director at Lindt, said: “We’re thrilled to be opening our newest Lindt Chocolate Shop in Glasgow – our third in Scotland – to bring the exquisite taste of Lindt to the bustling streets of Buchanan Street, a key location for us. Visitors can enjoy a premium chocolate paradise with a feast for all the senses and unique offerings, from discovering more than 30 different Pick & Mix flavours and our fresh Chocolate Bar, to personalised gifts for that extra special touch, only available in store. Head into store to explore the perfect gifts and irresistible limited-edition products this festive season!”

More Latest Retail News

North Yorkshire shopping centre handed £6.85m price tag

27th October 2026

A shopping centre in Redcar, North Yorkshire has been placed on the investment market with a price tag of £6,850,000, reflecting a net initial yield of 11.00%. Regent Walk Shopping Centre extends to 121,355 sq ft and comprises 22 units across four blocks and two floors. Tenants at the fully-occupied scheme B&M, Argos, Home Bargains, Greggs, JD Sports, and New Look. The shopping centre provides a weighted average unexpired lease term of 3.7 years to expiry and 2.6 years to break. Combined estimated rental values at Regent Walk total £834,500 per annum. Redcar’s core retail area is extends to approximately 570,000 sq ft, with Regent Walk forming the principal purpose-built retail provision and the link between the town’s main car park, the adjacent Morrisons superstore, and the town’s high street, which is anchored by occupiers including Iceland, Savers, Boots, Santander, and Halifax. As a seaside town, Redcar is also home to a seafront retail and leisure pitch, with a range of boutique shops, restaurants and bars along the promenade. Adjacent to Regent Walk is the development site of The Lookout, which will see the transformation of the former Marks & Spencer and Goodwins stores into a new 24,000 sq ft […]

Aldi to open seven new stores in November

27th October 2026

Aldi is set to open seven new stores across the UK in November as part of a wider £370m investment. The supermarket retailer – which has a long-term target to operate 1,500 stores nationwide – will open stores in Basildon in Essex, Newport on the Isle of Wight, Matlock in Derbyshire, Stepney Green and Willesden in London, Orrell in Wigan, and Waterlooville in Hampshire. These openings come amid continued expansion for the supermarket retailer, which announced last year that it plans to open 80 new stores over a two-year period. This included the opening of one store every week in September. Jonathan Neale, managing director of national real estate at Aldi, said: “Demand for new Aldi stores remains strong, and we want more shoppers to be able to enjoy our high-quality products at low prices. “Opening seven stores in November is another big step in our growth plans. It will create hundreds of local jobs and bring Aldi’s value to thousands more shoppers across the country.”

GPE to deliver retail space at mixed-use Soho Square Estate

27th October 2026

Great Portland Estates (GPE) has committed to redeveloping its Soho Square Estate in Central London to create a mixed-use block delivering office and retail space. The development will span approximately 90,000 sq ft, comprising 75,000 sq ft of office space and 15,000 sq ft of retail space fronting onto Oxford Street. Located close proximity to Tottenham Court Road station, the scheme will look to strengthen GPE’s presence along the Elizabeth line and complement its existing cluster of buildings in Soho, including the nearby 141 Wardour Street and 16 Dufour’s Place. Demolition is expected to commence shortly, with completion targeted for summer 2030. Piers Blewitt, director of development management at GPE, said: “This is a rare opportunity to create a flagship HQ at one of the West End’s most sought-after locations. Just moments from Tottenham Court Road station, the scheme builds on our successful Elizabeth line strategy and responds directly to demand for best-in-class, well-connected workplaces. With the market circa 50% undersupplied between now and 2030, we believe we will deliver our scheme at the right point in the cycle.”
News

Cardiff Waitrose store changes hands for £12.35m

27th October 2026

A Waitrose supermarket in Cardiff has been acquired by a local property company from an institutional fund owner for £12.35m. Located in Pentwyn, approximately five miles northeast of the city centre, the property occupies a prominent position within an established retail and residential catchment. The freehold property is let to Waitrose on a recently regeared 15-year lease, providing long-term income and fixed rental growth. The acquisition was completed following a competitive sales process that began earlier this year, with the buyer ultimately agreeing terms in July before progressing to exchange within approximately three months. Prideview acted on behalf of the purchaser alongside Emanuel Jones. Pritesh Patel, investment director at Prideview, said: “This was a rare opportunity to acquire a high-quality, foodstore-backed investment with secure long-term income and fixed rental growth. The asset was particularly attractive given its strategic location alongside our client’s existing ownerships in the area, creating opportunities for long-term asset management and portfolio consolidation. “Having tracked the opportunity throughout the sales process, we were able to react quickly when it became available again and successfully secure the acquisition.”
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