News
Aldi to invest £300m into existing store estate
13th February 2026Aldi is set to invest £300m into upgrading and upsizing its existing store estate across the UK. The investment will support a ranging of programmes, including store extensions and enhancement upgrades. Changes will include creating more shopping space and the introduction of more sustainable features. These include energy-efficient technology such as fridge doors to reduce energy use, and natural refrigerants to help cut carbon emissions. Other improvements include updated fixtures and signage, and redesigning store layouts. This comes after Aldi announced that it will be investing £370m into opening 40 new stores in 2026. The supermarket retailer’s stores that are set to receive size upgrades include: Other stores across the UK will also benefit from upgrades this year, including locations in Chester-le-Street in County Durham, Handsworth Road, Sheffield, Haverhill in Suffolk, Tybridge Street, Worcester, and Chorley in Lancashire. Giles Hurley, chief executive officer, Aldi UK and Ireland, said: “As well as opening new stores, we’re also investing in existing ones to make sure everyone can get what they need from Aldi. “By extending some stores, and by upgrading and improving others across the country, we can serve even more customers while creating even better shopping environments for our colleagues and shoppers. […]
Deals
Crew Clothing to open at Kent’s Bluewater
13th February 2026Crew Clothing is set to open a new store at Landsec’s Bluewater shopping centre in Kent. The fashion retailer’s 1,050 sq ft store represents a continued expansion from Crew Clothing, as it looks to strengthen its physical retail presence in key locations nationwide. Founded in the back of a windsurfing shop in Salcombe in 1993, Crew Clothing has aimed to build on its connection to the coast, with its range of clothing looking to champion British sport. Crew Clothing joins over 280 stores and food and beverage operators at Bluewater, as well as a 17-screen Showcase Cinema de Lux, Gravity Trampoline Park, and Dinotropolis Giant Soft Play. Carol Kane, head of retail at Crew Clothing, said: “Opening at Bluewater is a really exciting moment for Crew. Over the past few years, we’ve seen strong and sustained growth across the business, and investing in a destination as iconic as Bluewater feels like a natural next step in that journey. It’s one of the UK’s most influential shopping centres, and this new store represents an important milestone for the brand as we continue to expand our physical retail presence. We’re proud of the spaces we create and the experience we offer, and we’re looking forward to welcoming both new and existing […]
Requirements
Hotel Chocolat looks to sweeten London offer with new store openings
5th February 2026Hotel Chocolat has released its latest list of property requirements as it looks to expand its presence across London. The British chocolatier currently operates over 160 stores in the UK – alongside cafés, bars, and restaurants – and is now looking to open more locations in the capital and nationwide. Hotel Chocolat is seeking units ranging between 500 and 1,200 sq ft, located in prime, high footfall areas. Target locations in Central London include, but are not exhaustive to: Hotel Chocolat has appointed Colliers as sole acquisition agent.
Insights
Comment: Supporting Small Business scheme ‘prolongs the agony’ for hospitality and retail sector
27th January 2026As the Government plans to introduce new measures to deal with business rates from April this year, a leading specialist on business rates at Form Property believes that retailers, pubs and restaurants in the UK are quietly heading towards a business rates reckoning – and some won’t survive it. Andrea Barnes, head of business rates at Form Property, says that the retail, hospitality and leisure (RHL) sector is already ‘on life support’: “In recent years, many businesses have absorbed the loss of vital retail and hospitality relief – previously worth 75 per cent but reduced from April 2025 to 40 per cent. Layer on top of that the new legislation fixing multipliers at a minimum of 0.38, plus rising rateable values at the 2026 revaluation, and the numbers quickly become unworkable. “For a typical independent pub or restaurant, rates bills are set to rise by an average of £8,000-£10,000 a year from April 2026. In some cases, increases are even higher – enough to swallow margins that are often already razor-thin. “If the Government doesn’t act quickly, the fallout will be dramatic. New modelling from the UK hospitality trade body shows around six pubs, restaurants, hotels and other hospitality venues […]
News
Merry Hill fills out former Debenhams with competitive leisure venue launch
12th February 2026Merry Hill in the West Midlands has welcomed finalised the reletting of its former Debenhams department store with the opening of competitive leisure venue Carnival Golf & Games. Operated by family entertainment brand Funstation, the venue spans 23,700 sq ft and features two themed mini golf courses alongside a mix of immersive video and carnival gaming, VR experiences, escape rooms, and laser tag. Within the former Debenhams store, Carnival Golf & Games sits alongside national debut units for Harvey Norman and fitness operator XF Gym. Merry Hill’s leisure quarter is now fully let following the arrival of a mix of F&B brands including Burger & Sauce, Heavenly Desserts, and Toledo Lounge in 2025. Alistair Winning, asset manager at Sovereign Centros from CBRE, said: “The opening of Carnival Golf & Games is a fantastic way to kickstart 2026 at Merry Hill. Completing the former Debenhams unit with such a compelling experiential leisure operator underlines the strength of our leasing strategy. The fact that Funstation are bringing something completely new also points to their confidence in Merry Hill, off the back of national debuts from Harvey Norman and XF Gym here.” The opening of Carnival Golf & Games follows the recent news […]
