News
Coppa Club owner to change name and create third brand following pub portfolio acquisition
6th March 2026Various Eateries, the owner of the Coppa Club and Noci brands, is set to create a third brand after acquiring a portfolio of premium pubs for £11.25m. The group has also announced its intention to change name to Coppa Collective, which it said better reflects its portfolio and long-term direction. The acquisition of the pubs – which are located in the Cotswolds, Berkshire, Surrey, and Hampshire – is expected to complete on or around 23rd March. On completion, the sites will form a new operating brand, The Linwood Collection. The group has also agreed terms to potentially acquire a fifth pub in Surrey. Various Eateries said it considers the venues to be high-quality, well-invested assets, recognised for their character, design and strong local reputations. Mark Loughborough, CEO of Various Eateries, said: “Linwood marks an important step in the evolution of the Group. We are bringing into the business a small collection of premium pubs with rooms that have earned their reputations the right way, through great hospitality, careful attention to detail and a real sense of place. They are destinations with loyal followings, and our priority is straightforward: protect what people already love about them and build from there. “This […]
Deals
M&G and Warner Bros. brew up debut UK flagship Harry Potter store on Oxford Street
5th March 2026M&G has reached an agreement with Warner Bros. Global Experiences that will see the opening of the UK’s first flagship Harry Potter store on London’s Oxford Street. The two-storey store will be located at The Ribbon, M&G’s £250m redevelopment, and feature licensed merchandise from the film series alongside interactive experiences. Occupying a site once home to Victorian drapers, The Ribbon takes its name from Oxford Street’s fashion-led heritage. The site has undergone a multimillion pound redevelopment, backed by patient capital from M&G’s £130bn With‑Profits Fund, including the £68 billion PruFund. M&G said the letting exemplifies the ‘shop-and-experience’ trend, where leading retailers vie for prime spots in central locations to create more social and immersive experiences. Research commissioned by M&G found that half of UK adults view dining and entertainment as essential to the shopping experience, with 62% citing leisure activities as a key reason for visiting towns and city centre. Martin Towns, global head of real estate at M&G Real Estate, said: “London’s Oxford Street continues to attract world‑leading brands and we’re delighted to welcome Warner Bros. Discovery to The Ribbon later this year. The team behind this world‑class development is supporting the opening of the UK’s first flagship Harry […]
Requirements
Independent gym operator seeking more sites
19th February 2026Family-run gym operator Simply Gym has released its latest list of requirements as it looks to open more sites within major towns and cities across the South West and the Midlands. Simply Gym, which currently operates eight locations, is seeking units ranging between 15,000 sq ft and 45,000 sq ft, with a minimum floor-to-ceiling height of 2.6 metres. Suitable units will be set across ground and/or first floors, with splits considered, and will also be supplemented by strong parking availability. Leasehold or freehold properties will be considered. Target locations include: FHP has been appointed to find suitable locations.
Insights
“It’s the landlords that can’t keep up with our pace”: Rodd & Gunn’s Mike Beagley on the brand’s UK expansion, its “honest” approach, and his ambition to open a pub
27th February 2026New Zealand-based menswear brand Rodd & Gunn’s expansion into the UK physical retail market has been steadily gaining momentum. In 2025, the brand opened four new stores and is now targeting double-digit openings across the UK in 2026 and is in discussions to secure its first shopping centre locations. These targets are backed by strong growth in sales, which were up by 19% on a like-for-like basis in stores and 26% online in 2025. “Our covenant is strong, we’ve got a global business and it’s been growing consistently over a long period of time”, says Mike Beagley, CEO of Rodd & Gunn. “Retail is a tough business, but it’s also very rewarding if you put the effort in” he tells Completely Retail News. He’s speaking from Auckland, where it’s a late summer evening. “It’s the reason I’m up working at this time of night and will be on later”, he says. On this side of the planet, the retailer is now looking to expand its current estate. Rodd & Gunn currently operates 10 standalone stores in the UK – located in London, Exeter, Bath, Winchester, Cheltenham, Chester, York, Ashford, Glasgow, and Edinburgh – with four more set to open by […]
News
Supermarket-led Wiltshire asset changes hands for £8.6m
5th March 2026A supermarket-led retail asset in Warminster, Wiltshire has changed hands in a deal worth £8.6m. The property has been sold by HBD, the property investment and development arm of development and home building business Henry Boot, to a UK real estate investment trust. Located on a two-acre site on the edge of Warminster town centre, the 29,350 sq ft asset is fully let and comprises a Waitrose supermarket and three adjacent retail units. Since its completion in 2012, the property has been held within Henry Boot’s investment portfolio. The asset has a weighted average unexpired lease term of 10.9 years to expiry, and 10.4 years to first break, with Waitrose accounting for 82% of the income. The sale represents a net initial yield of 6.6% and was completed at a premium to the 31 December 2025 book value. Tim Roberts, CEO at Henry Boot, said: “This disposal reflects the group’s focus on recycling capital from its investment portfolio, ensuring we remain well positioned to deploy capital to continue generating long-term returns. We will continue to be patient in building back the value of the investment portfolio through high-quality projects such as Origin, in line with our medium-term target.”
