Latest Retail News

Newmark leads Bodycare’s return to the high street after securing leases for six new stores

8th April 2026

Newmark, acting as sole adviser to health and beauty brand Bodycare, has secured leases for six new retail locations in the UK. This marks the retailer’s return to the high street following its collapse into administration in October 2025. The stores are located in Merry Hill in Dudley, Derbion in Derby, The Moor in Sheffield, Highcross in Leicester, The Mall in Blackburn, and St Johns in Leeds. An additional 19 stores are planned to open by the end of 2026, with the longer-term ambition for over 200 stores nationwide. David Stern, managing director at Bodycare, said: “Since the acquisition of Bodycare, the team has reimagined both the in-store experience and the brand’s digital presence. The response from the industry to date has reinforced our confidence to scale quickly and we are looking forward to welcoming customers back as soon as possible. Newmark has been instrumental in supporting us in our ambitious vision.” David Purslow, executive managing director at Newmark, said: “Bodycare is executing a compelling retail strategy – moving at pace but with clear direction and a disciplined approach which sets it up for success. Our priority is to ensure the property strategy underpins the brand’s momentum as it scales nationally.”

Hollywood Bowl leads raft of new lettings at Chelmsford’s The Meadows

8th April 2026

The Meadows in Chelmsford has completed a raft of new signings, led by leisure operator Hollywood Bowl. Spanning 30,000 sq ft, the operator’s new venue will open this winter and feature multi-lane bowling, a games zone, and a sports bar. Hollywood Bowl will anchor the growing leisure hub at the scheme, complementing the existing Odeon cinema and food and beverage offer. This F&B offer is also being expanded with the addition of restaurant brand Smoke & Pepper. The 4,650 sq ft riverside restaurant will open in April and become the operator’s 14th location, offering smash burgers, grilled chicken, loaded fries, smoked meats, and speciality sauces. The scheme has also increased its retail offer with the signings of Suit Direct and Big Dog Land, which are taking 5,000 sq ft and 1,500 sq ft units, respectively. Alex Butler, senior asset manager at Estama, said:  “It’s been a really strong start to 2026 at The Meadows, with a great mix of new lettings and openings already coming through. We’re proud to be playing a part in the centre’s ongoing evolution alongside a great team, and there’s more to come across both retail and leisure, which will build on this momentum and continue...

News

INITIO Parfums Privés opens first standalone store in Covent Garden

7th April 2026

INITO Parfums Privés has opened its first standalone store at Covent Garden’s Market Building in London. The arrival of the 246 sq ft boutique comes follows the French perfume brand’s success across various concessions in department stores such as Harvey Nichols and Selfridges. INITIO Parfums Privé sjoins an array of fragrance houses in Covent Garden, including Parfums de Marly, which recently upsized and relocated to James Street; Byredo, which opened a second store in Covent Garden following the success of its Seven Dials space; and MATIERE PREMIERE, which launched its debut UK flagship location on King Street in February. William Oliver, director of retail and restaurant leasing at Shaftesbury Capital, said: “Our leasing strategy is focused on curating best-in-class brands that enhance the district’s global appeal, with beauty a key pillar for Covent Garden. The arrival of INITIO Parfums Privés reinforces Covent Garden’s position as London’s leading luxury beauty destination, one we have carefully shaped, where a growing cluster of premium brands continues to drive strong demand and interest.” Patrice Béliard, CEO of INITIO Parfums Privés and Parfums de Marly, added: “The decision to launch our first UK standalone store in Covent Garden reflects both the success of our existing concessions […]

Deals

Vagabond Wines to open largest venue in Soho

7th April 2026

Vagabond Wines is set to open its largest venue to date in Soho, London. The 6,300 sq ft venue, located at 14-16 Ganton Street, marks a West End debut for the self-pour brand. Guests will have a choice of over 120 wines by the glass, some from grapes grown within two hours of London, championing local wine. It will also offer a menu of seasonal small plates and nibbles, built for sharing and pairing with the available wines. Emma Matus, head of restaurant leasing at Shaftesbury Capital, said: “Vagabond’s experiential concept is an ideal match for Soho, appealing to our broad demographic of visitors and perfectly complementing our dynamic, ever-evolving food and drink scene. Like its fellow wine bars in Soho, Vagabond delivers a unique, interactive experience that suits the West End right down to the ground.” John Colley, CEO of Majestic Wine Group, added: “Vagabond is central to our vision for the future of wine, and we have made a significant multi-million pound investment in the brand to support its growth. Together with Fortress, we are backing a long-term strategy to scale Vagabond across the UK, combining standout physical locations with an integrated technology platform that allows us to […]

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Wahaca appoints agents to support UK expansion

25th March 2026

P-Three has been appointed by contemporary Mexican restaurant group Wahaca to support its rollout across the UK. The retail, leisure, and placemaking agency is targeting launches in new cities including Cambridge, Manchester, Glasgow and Birmingham, as well as expanding the group’s presence in London. P-Three is seeking units ranging between 2,500 sq ft and 4,500 sq ft in size, which will be converted into Wahaca’s style, inspired by the modern culture seen in contemporary Oaxaca. Thomas Rose, co-founder at P-Three, said: “Wahaca has firmly established itself as one of the UK’s most authentic and lively restaurant groups, offering diners a bold, fresh and modern take on Mexican street food. A longstanding client of P-Three, we are excited to be supporting Wahaca with this next phase of growth and look forward to helping them bring their concept to new cities and locations across the UK.” Mark Selby, co-founder and chair at Wahaca, added: “After the huge success of our Paddington opening in 2024 and the incredible feedback on Wahaca Reimagined across our 14 individually designed restaurants, we are excited to be once again looking to bring Wahaca’s unique restaurant experience to different areas of the UK.  We want to find buildings that lend […]

Insights

Comment: How intentional shopping is driving stronger results in retail environments

27th March 2026

Saagar Schadev, director, in Savills' West End shopping centre and property management team looks at how outlet retail competes with traditional retail.

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 […]

Play Padel to serve up second UK venue at Meadowhall

1st April 2026

Indoor padel club operator Play Padel is set to open its second UK venue at Meadowhall in Sheffield. The operator, which was founded in Sheffield, is set to open a 35,000 sq ft venue later this year, comprising eight indoor courts, a clubhouse, a café, and a social space. Play Padel looks to bring together sport, socialising, and hospitality to create a high-quality leisure destination that complements Meadowhall’s existing retail, leisure, and F&B offer. Richard Crowther, retail leasing director at British Land, said: “Play Padel is a compelling addition to the leisure mix at Meadowhall, delivering a high-quality, accessible offer that will engage a wide demographic. It reinforces the commercial and social value of considered leisure in retail-led schemes, and underscores how they can drive footfall, extend dwell time, and enhance the overall customer experience. Venues like this play a critical role in creating vibrant, community-focused destinations that go beyond just shopping, as part of a complementary ecosystem of uses.” Alex Fleming, founder and CEO at Play Padel Group, added: “Meadowhall represents a major step forward for Play Padel Group in building long-term leisure destinations that bring people together. The demand we’ve seen in Sheffield has been exceptional, and this...

News

Sports Direct opens 31,000 sq ft store in Kingston upon Thames

7th April 2026

Sports Direct has opened a 31,000 sq ft store in Kingston upon Thames. The two-storey location offers a selection of sports and lifestyle clothing and footwear for men, women, and children, and also brings together brands from across the Frasers Group’s portfolio, including GAME and USC. Lauren Barrie, chief retail officer at Frasers Group, said: “Sports Direct Kingston is another example of how we’re elevating the UK’s sports and lifestyle retail offering. Delivering immersive retail destinations that bring together global brands and specialist services under one roof. This opening is another important step in delivering our Elevation Strategy.” The opening, located at 10-13 Market Place, builds on the group’s retail expansion and ambitions, and forms part of its broader plans to continue evolving its store portfolio in the UK and internationally.

More Latest Retail News

Poundstretcher looks to reduce rents in restructuring plan

2nd April 2026

Poundstretcher is seeking rent reductions at its stores as part of a restructuring plan designed to reduce the discounter’s overheads. The retailer – which operates around 300 stores in the UK – said that any arrangement would not result in store closures or job redundancies. Poundstretcher was acquired in 2024 by Fortress Investment Group, the owner of Majestic Wine. The retailer said it has faced challenging trading conditions over the last year, driven by a difficult macroeconomic environment and wider pressures facing the high street. Andy Atkinson, chief executive of Poundstretcher, said: “This plan we’ve set out today will reduce our cost base and enable us to invest in our stores, our people and the overall customer experience. “This restructuring plan will help to secure the long-term future of the business by strengthening existing locations and enabling sustainable growth.”

Metrocentre signs agreement to deliver riverside development

2nd April 2026

Metrocentre has signed an agreement with Gateshead Council to deliver Metro Riverside, a major new mixed-use development on the south bank of the River Tyne. Located three miles west of Newcastle-Gateshead city centre, Metro Riverside will look to transform under-utilised brownfield land surrounding Metrocentre into a diverse new urban community, delivering 4,500 new homes, improved transport infrastructure, and leisure opportunities. Designed as a 20-minute destination, the development will aim to offer compact, accessible, and walkable neighbourhoods in a high-quality waterfront setting, supported by strong connections to public transport. Metro Riverside has been identified as a major housing scheme in the North East Combined Authority’s (NECA) Local Growth Plan and in the Strategic Place Partnership created by NECA and Homes England, which seeks to unlock delivery of new homes. At the heart of Metro Riverside will be a re-imagined Metrocentre, with the centre’s aim being serving the everyday needs of new residents and workers, while continuing to attract visitors from across the North East and beyond. Martin Healy, chair of Metrocentre, said: “Metro Riverside demonstrates the power of long-term public-private partnerships to unlock transformational change. Developments of this scale and ambition simply cannot be delivered in isolation. “By working in partnership...

Cited Property adds director to lead regional expansion

2nd April 2026

Cited Property has appointed Oliver Marshall as a director within the firm’s new office in Nottingham. In his new role, Marshall will lead the commercial property agency’s expansion across the Midlands and the North. He will focus on growing the firm’s landlord agency offering, working with clients across high streets, shopping centres, and retail parks. He brings over 15 years’ of experience to the firm, having spent his career at FHP Property Consultants where he advised landlords, investors, and occupiers. During this tenure, he was recognised by Estates Gazette as ‘The Most Active Dealmaker’ in 2022 and 2023. In a statement, Cited Property said: “While he has worked across a range of property sectors, Oliver specialises in retail leasing and has developed a reputation for delivering effective leasing strategies and getting deals done. “At Cited, Oliver will focus on continuing the growth our landlord agency offering across the Midlands and the North, working closely with the wider team to expand the presence and build on our success by growing geographically. Oliver’s experience and market knowledge make him ideally placed to lead this next phase of growth. “We’re thrilled to have Oliver on board as we continue to grow our regional […]
News

Greenridge offloads Ipswich Waitrose and John Lewis store

2nd April 2026

Greenridge Investment Management has completed the sale of a Waitrose and John Lewis store at Futura Park in Ipswich for £28.6m, reflecting a net initial yield of 7.1%. The property comprises purpose-built retail warehouse, extending to approximately 71,000 sq ft with 409 car parking spaces . It is let in its entirety to the John Lewis Partnership on a long lease with fixed rental uplifts. Greenridge Investment Management originally purchased the asset in May 2024 for £21.9m as the third acquisition in its GO Fund, reflecting a net initial yield of around 8%. It was acquired as part of the group’s strategy to target high-quality, income-generating retail assets with strong underlying fundamentals. Alex Walker, partner at Greenridge Investment Management, said: “This sale highlights that our conviction in well-located retail warehousing with secure contractual income to a strong covenant was justified at a point in the cycle when many others were retrenching investment activities. We’re delighted that our ability to unlock value through our defined strategies and disciplined acquisition process has again resulted in an excellent return for our investors.”
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