Latest Retail News

Greater Manchester shopping centre handed £8.5m price tag

12th May 2026

A convenience-led shopping centre in Middleton, Greater Manchester, has been brought to market with an asking price of £8,450,000, reflecting a blended net initial yield of 11.00%. Situated approximately five miles northeast of Manchester City Centre, Middleton Shopping Centre comprises 324,078 sq ft of retail accommodation across 87 units, supported a 430-space multi-storey car park. Middleton Shopping Centre has an occupancy of approximately 93% by floor area, supported by recent leasing activity across the scheme, which has completed 15 lettings and renewals over the past 12 months. The centre is anchored by Home Bargains, Boyes, JD Gyms, Poundstretcher, and Iceland, which sit alongside other national operators such as Boots, Superdrug, EE, Specsavers, Costa Coffee, and Greggs. The shopping centre is also home to a number of local and independent retailers, and is situated in close proximity to a large-format Tesco Extra store and petrol filling station. Middleton Shopping Centre has a residential catchment of approximately 1,060,000 people, according to CACI. Middleton benefits from close proximity to major employment centres including Manchester, Salford, and Rochdale. Knight Frank has been appointed to market the shopping centre.

The Gym Group on plans to open 75 new sites: “We’re open to as many opportunities as we can find”

11th May 2026

The 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...

News

Eme Studios to make UK debut on Carnaby Street

11th May 2026

Eme Studios is set to make its UK debut and open its first permanent store outside of Spain on London’s Carnaby Street. The new 1,500 sq ft space will offer a range of men’s, women’s, and unisex pieces, including knitwear, jackets, and other apparel. Founded in Spain in 2018, Eme Studios currently has stores in Madrid, Barcelona, and Valencia, and trades online in over 100 countries. The brand’s to open its first-ever bricks-and-mortar store in the UK its strategic expansion aspirations. Eme Studios follows in the footsteps of several international brands that started their UK journey in Soho, including the likes of Adidas Originals, Axel Arigato, Autry, and Alohas. William Oliver, director of retail and restaurant leasing at Shaftesbury Capital, said: “Carnaby Street is a timeless, iconic destination that offers the ideal environment for digitally native brands to start physical retail journeys in the UK. Eme Studios complements our existing brand mix at the southern gateway into Carnaby Street, with its culture-driven clothing matching consumer demand. Given the success of Edikted, TALA, Sheep Inc, and other digitally native brands, it is clear why Carnaby Street and Soho continue to be first-choice for these best-in-class retailers.” Gabriel Morón, co-owner of Eme […]

Deals

Darlington’s Cornmill Shopping Centre to serve up Pepe’s Piri Piri

11th May 2026

Cornmill Shopping Centre in Darlington, County Durham, is set to add Pepe’s Piri Piri to its food and beverage lineup. The grilled chicken restaurant chain has signed a 10-year lease agreement at the shopping centre, and will occupy a the former Burger King unit which was vacated in 2020. Founded in 2004, Pepe’s Piri Piri has built a reputation for bringing Piri Piri to the high street, with a focus on flame-grilled techniques and customisable spice levels. Zoe France, Centre Manager at Cornmill Shopping Centre, said: “We are delighted to welcome Pepe’s Piri Piri to Cornmill Shopping Centre. Our customers have been asking for more food options within the centre, and we are pleased to be delivering on that feedback with this opening.”

PROPERTY OF THE WEEK

Completely Retail

28 Fitzroy Street

The property comprises ground floor retail space accessed via a prominent entrance off Fitzroy Street. The first floor provides ancillary staff, storage and WC’s. The property has rear loading from Eden Street and Eden Street Backway.

Requirements

Toolstation eyes new sites as it looks to expand London and South East estate

22nd April 2026

Toolstation 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

Comment: How Derbion is taking a unique approach to growing Derby’s leisure offering 

8th May 2026

A strong leisure offering has long been a cornerstone of any successful retail destination, but in recent years it has gained even more importance. The rise of e-commerce and the closure of high street staples like Debenhams, Topshop, and BHS, resulted in significant void space across many shopping centres and leisure has played a key role in filling those voids.

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 […]

Battersea powers up retail and leisure lineup with 10 new deals

11th May 2026

Battersea Power Station is set to welcome 10 new retail and leisure openings in 2026, expanding its offering to over 170 shops, bars, restaurants, and entertainment venues. Early spring saw the arrivals of Swiss luxury chocolatier Läderach inside the Grade II listed Power Station and Me Place Nursery in Circus West Village, which provides childcare for one-to-five-year olds during the week. Opening soon at the power station is health-focused café, Jungleberry Acai, and blow-dry bar Duck & Dry on Electric Boulevard, the neighbourhood’s pedestrianised high street. Meanwhile Argentine food specialist Chango Empanadas will open inside the new Battersea Power Station London Underground Entrance, which opened in October 2025. This summer, Battersea Power Station will welcome a number of international brands, including lifestyle retailer Anthropologie, Asian dining concept Noodle Inn, Japanese restaurant Konjiki, Korean beauty retailer Moida K-Beauty, and fitness and lifestyle club One City, which has chosen Battersea Power Station to open its first London studio. Also adding to the fitness and wellness offer at Battersea Power Station is Third Space, which is taking an additional 13,833 sq ft to expand its existing 28,000 sq ft space. In early summer, LIPS healthcare will also expand its services at Battersea Power...

News

Park Place Retail brings five retail parks to market

8th May 2026

Park Place Retail has brought five retail parks to the investment market with a combined asking price of over £39.7m. The retail warehousing specialist is marketing Bangor Retail Park in Wales with a price tag of £11,118,000, reflecting a net initial yield of 7.75%. The scheme comprises four purpose-built retail warehouse units let to Next, Sports Direct, Argos, and The Range. The asset produces an average rent of £15.08 per sq ft and has a weighted average unexpired lease term of 9.7 years. Park Place Retail has also brought Lichfield Retail Park in Staffordshire to market with an asking price of £10,410,000, reflecting a net initial yield of 7.5%.

More Latest Retail News

Bath & Body Works to make East Midlands debut at Nottingham’s Victoria Centre

8th May 2026

Bath & Body Works is set to open its first store in the East Midlands at the Victoria Centre in Nottingham. The retailer will take a 1,700 sq ft on the scheme’s Lower Mall, offering a range of fragrance-led body care products, home scents, and seasonal collections. This latest signing follows the recent opening of Victoria’s Secret at Victoria Centre, which has taken a 6,000 sq ft store, making its city debut. The brand joins an established line-up of retailers at the scheme including Rituals, Levi’s, and Urban Outfitters. Rebecca Milnes-James, asset manager at Pradera, said: “Securing Bath & Body Works is a significant milestone for Victoria Centre, and a strong endorsement of the destination’s performance and positioning within Nottingham. We remain focused on curating a best-in-class retail mix that drives unrivalled footfall and customer engagement, and Bath & Body Works is a natural fit, bringing a highly experiential offer that will resonate strongly with our visitors.” A representative from Bath & Body Works added: “Victoria Centre is the perfect location for our East Midlands debut, with the destination’s strong reputation and high footfall making it an obvious choice as the next step in our UK expansion.  We are excited […]

Up to 150 former WHSmith stores could close in restructuring plans

7th May 2026

Up to 150 former WHSmith high street stores could close as part of a restructuring plan. A spokesperson for private equity firm Modella Capital, which owns the rebranded TGJones stores, said the retailer had faced “highly challenging trading conditions over the past year”. Modella acquired WHSmith’s high street estate last year in a deal worth approximately £40m. The retailer’s travel division and intellectual property was not included. The firm said the challenges were partly due to the “forced” name change to TGJones, saying that the change negatively impacted public awareness of the brand. Other named factors included rising operating costs and recent geopolitical events. The spokesperson added: “The restructuring plan is designed to protect the substantial core of the store estate and create a stronger, more sustainable business that can continue to serve customers for years to come.” This comes after another Claire’s, another Modella Capital-owned brand, closed 154 stores last month after ceasing trading.

Avison Young appoints new UK & Ireland president

7th May 2026

Avison Young has appointed George Roberts as the new president of its UK & Ireland business. Joining the firm in May, he brings over 30 years’ experience in real estate and professional services, having most recently led Cushman & Wakefield’s UK & Ireland business. In his new role, Roberts will focus on investment and growth in capital markets and leasing, while looking to capitalise on and strengthen Avison Young’s advisory and consultative business. Mark E Rose, chair and chief executive officer of Avison Young, said: “George’s arrival as UK & Ireland president signals the start of a significant era of growth, collaboration and differentiation. His focus will be firmly on all clients, ensuring we help them make better decisions and execute them effectively. I want to take this opportunity to welcome him to Avison Young, and I look forward to working closely with him and the UK leadership team.” George Roberts added: “Avison Young stands out to me as a firm that differentiates itself through its agility and focus on global insight, market intelligence and technology. There is an excellent platform to start building from, and I’m excited to leverage our global knowledge and expertise to grow here in the […]
News

Dalton Park Outlet to expand fashion lineup with Belstaff addition

7th May 2026

Dalton Park Outlet in the North East is set to expand its fashion lineup with the addition of Belstaff. The British fashion retailer – which was acquired by Castore in 2025 – will join the outlet shopping centre, located in County Durham, this June. Belstaff joins the existing fashion lineup at Dalton Park Outlet that includes the likes of Calvin Klein, Castore, Levi’s and Tommy Hilfiger. Nicky Lovell, head of outlets and retail business development at Global Mutual, said: “Belstaff is a highly desirable British brand with a loyal following. We are confident the store will thrive at Dalton Park. We are continually working to secure leading fashion brands – ensuring that our retail mix is relevant and drives sustained footfall and spend growth. The addition of Belstaff is testament to the ongoing appeal of Dalton Park and the hard work and dedication of the team.” The signing comes after Belstaff opened its first store outside of London at Victoria Leeds in September 2024.
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