
News
Vegan restaurant Hank’s Dirty opens permanently in Norwich
28th November 2023Vegan restaurant Hank’s Dirty has opened at Castle Quarter in Norwich on a permanent basis. The operator has taken a six-year lease for a 2,007 sq ft unit in the Timberhill Terrace area of the Norwich scheme. Hank’s Dirty was one of the original operators at the Norwich scheme’s Castle Social market hall concept when it opened in autumn 2022. The company behind the operator will retain use of the original unit to open the first outlet for its Top Dawgs & Desserts concept. The signing follows a period of record performance for Castle Quarter following its repositioning towards an increased leisure and entertainment offer. Notable additions to the scheme’s leisure offering include Boom Battle Bar, Putt Putt Noodle, Escape Hunt, and Vector VR. In addition, the eight-screen Vue Cinema has committed to a major refurbishment for 2024. Will Ashdown, asset manager at RivingtonHark, said: “The decision by Hank’s Dirty to open a standalone restaurant at Castle Quarter is hugely exciting, and reflects the success it has seen in its year within Castle Social. When we launched Castle Social, we envisioned it being a destination in its own right, incubating new concepts and giving opportunities to exciting pop-ups. The progression […]

Deals
Zara opens in Bath’s SouthGate
28th November 2023Zara has made its debut in Bath after opening in the city’s open-air shopping destination SouthGate. The Inditex-owned fashion retailer has taken multiple units on SouthGate Place, comprising 32,000 sq ft of space over two floors. Zara joins the recently-opened 5,000 sq ft Goldsmith’s store at SouthGate, as well as Oliver Bonas which opened earlier this year. The retailers sit alongside retailers including Lululemon, Levi’s, Apple, Urban Outfitters, Franco Manca, and Comptoir Libanais. At the time of the signing, Kate Lea, head of shopping centre leasing at British Land, said: “ZARA’s decision to choose SouthGate for its first store in the city is a testament to the popularity of the destination, and the work we’ve done to make the centre as attractive and engaging for customers as possible.” The lettings have built on what was a strong first half of the year for scheme owner British Land, which saw 1 million sq ft of retail deals being signed across its portfolio. British Land and SouthGate joint owners Aviva Investors were advised by Cushman & Wakefield.

Requirements
Jollyes targeting retail parks in expansion drive
23rd November 2023Jollyes is targeting retail parks as part of its continued expansion, as the retailer aims to open between 20 and 25 new stores in 2024. The pet retailer’s ideal units range between 5,000 and 7,000 sq ft in size at ground floor, located at retail parks or roadside locations across the UK. So far in 2023, Jollyes has opened 14 stores in the following locations: Jollyes has appointed Tim Hornor, Karl Norman and Sophie Wilson at Edgerley Simpson Howe to help find suitable locations to support its expansion plans.

Insights
Lone Design Club: Attracting Gen Z “biggest challenge” for landlords
23rd November 2023Getting Gen Z consumers to spend time and money at retail destinations is the “biggest challenge” facing landlords, says Rebecca Morter, founder and CEO of Lone Design Club (LDC). “The data on shopping behaviours – especially from the Gen Z audiences – show that they need discovery and freshness from their physical retail and shopping”, she tells Completely Retail News. Launched in 2018, Lone Design Club – which opened its latest location at One New Change in London on Monday – utilises a pop-up format to bring online brands into physical spaces. Morter says the retail platform offers a chance for young consumers who interested in digital and social media-led brands to get away from “copy-and-paste high streets”. She cites brands such as Spanx, Charlotte Tilbury, and ASOS as part of a long list of retailers which are looking for a home on the high street. “Omnichannel is the future”, Morter explains, stating that some customers prefer to look online but convert in-store, whilst others prefer to browse on the high street but then actually purchase online. “Now what we’re seeing with these trends emerging is that brands have to be online and offline to have a proper relationship with […]

News
Colliers seeks regeneration partner for Margate’s Winter Gardens
27th November 2023Colliers has been appointed by Thanet District Council to find a suitable development partner to help regenerate Margate’s Winter Gardens. The 51,000 sq ft Grade II-listed entertainment venue closed its doors in August 2022, however Thanet District Council has expressed a desire to bring Winter Gardens back to its former glory. The venue – which has hosted the likes of The Beatles and Laurel and Hardy in its storied history – is set to be redeveloped as part of the council’s £22.2m Margate Town Deal programme. The seafront venue comprises two performance spaces; the main hall has a capacity of 2,150 standing people whilst the Queen’s Hall can host 600. Paul Bugeja from Colliers Licensed & Leisure team said: “The council is seeking a partner which can honour the history of this venue, while also bringing it up to date and making it inviting to residents as well as visitors to Margate. We have seen how exciting regeneration plans for landmark buildings such as the Eastbourne Winter Gardens and De La Warr Pavilion, Bexhill have revitalised coastal towns. We’re looking to secure a partnership which has a vision to reignite the entertainment offering in Margate and deliver on the expectations […]

Deals
Savills welcomes three retailers to Chelsea’s King’s Road
24th November 2023Savills has welcome the arrival of three new retailers to the King’s Road in Chelsea. Footwear brand NOKWOL has opened at No. 13, launching their first standalone store following a successful flagship with Naked Wolfe on New Bond Street. Anthony Selwyn of Savills represented NOKWOL, whilst Florence Mills and Cameron Scott of Nashbond advised the landlord Cadogan. Meanwhile, athleisure brand Alo Yoga and lifestyle brand MC2 Saint Barth’s have opened their first stores in London. The two brands join the recently opened Mexican Restaurant Ixchel London and eyewear brand Bloobloom at the 33 King’s Road development. Savill’s Phoebe Bates and Peter Thomas jointly advised Martin’s Properties and Hanover Green on the Alo Yoga and MC2 Saint Barth’s lettings.
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