News
Highcross Leicester welcomes UK’s first augmented reality experience
21st August 2026Highcross Leicester has welcomed HADO, the world’s first augmented reality (AR) techno-sport to the centre as part of a two-week pop-up. Located in the former North Face unit on the upper mall, the pop-up looks to combine real-world sport with digital gameplay, enables visitors to compete on a real-world court while wearing AR headsets and wrist sensors, allowing them to shoot digital energy balls, raise shields, and dodge attacks in real time. Created in Japan in 2014, HADO is unlike traditional gaming or virtual reality as players are physically active within the real-world environment while digital elements are overlaid onto their surroundings. During the pop-up, players can take part in two games, either player-versus-player or monster battle, which sees participants take on virtual dragons, monsters and bosses across a series of levels. Michelle Menezes, centre director at Highcross Leicester, said: “We’re delighted to be bringing HADO to Highcross, giving our shoppers the opportunity to experience the UK’s first pop-up of its kind in a shopping centre. “It’s a completely new experience for Leicester, and we’re excited to give visitors the chance to get involved, whether they’re already passionate about gaming or simply looking to try something different.” The event forms […]
Deals
Frasers Plus Designer Outlet serves up Chopstix as F&B offer grows
20th August 2026Frasers Plus Designer Outlet Swindon is set to welcome Chopstix as the scheme looks to strengthen its food and beverage proposition. One of the UK’s fastest-growing quick-service restaurant brands, Chopstix has recently expanded across major retailer, leisure, and travel destinations. Global Mutual, which asset manages Frasers Plus Designer Outlet Swindon, said the signing reflects the destination’s ability to attract recognised national brands seeking well-connected locations with a strong and established retail proposition. The signing follows the recent opening of British heritage menswear brand Belstaff at Frasers Plus Designer Outlet Swindon. Located on the M4 corridor, Frasers Plus Designer Outlet Swindon is home to over 90 designer and high-street brands. The scheme was acquired by Frasers Group at the end of 2025. Nicky Lovell, head of outlets and retail business development at Global Mutual, said “As we continue to evolve the destination, our focus remains on securing brands that strengthen key categories, complement our existing brand mix and respond to changing customer expectations. A strong food and beverage offer is increasingly in supporting longer visitor dwell times and creating a destination that meets the needs of both retailers and customers. Chopstix is another excellent example of our long-term leasing strategy at Frasers Plus Designer Outlet Swindon.” Gareth Brannigan, head of new store openings at Chopstix, added: “We’re excited to be bringing Chopstix to Frasers Plus Designer Outlet Swindon […]
Requirements
Toolstation eyes new sites as it looks to expand London and South East estate
22nd April 2026Toolstation 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
The rise of ‘treatonomics’: how changing spending patterns are affecting retail destinations
9th July 2026Times of economic difficulty and reduced consumer confidence have traditionally seen consumers tighten their purse strings, occasionally saving up for a larger purchase. But a recent shift in spending patterns suggests that shoppers are now shunning big-ticket purchases in favour of smaller, less expensive products or experiences. This concept, dubbed ‘treatonomics’, has been observed by Alex Petit, head of research and insights at Global Mutual, within the group’s portfolio of outlet shopping centres. “What we’ve seen is that cost-of-living crisis, combined with people wanting to keep on treating themselves, means that people are suddenly treating themselves on much smaller price points. That’s what we’re seeing with treatonomics”, she tells Completely Retail News. Data from the ONS found that despite increasing costs, sales volumes have remained broadly flat against pre-pandemic levels. This implies a shift towards consumers spending money less often, but instead choosing to make select purchases of higher values. “People are being very considered”, says Petit, “I think it comes from the pandemic as well, when we were all locked at home and we were deprived of a lot of things. People now have a slightly different outlook on life as there’s this hang-up psychologically, from us not being […]
Advice
Turn lease events from growing pains into commercial gains
10th March 2026By 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 […]
News
Landsec eyes £500m acquisition of Gateshead’s Metrocentre
20th August 2026Landsec is reportedly looking to acquire the Metrocentre shopping centre in Gateshead, which was put on the market earlier this year for £500m. The FTSE 100-listed real estate investment trust is understood to have emerged as the frontrunner to acquire the shopping centre, according to The Times, seeing off interest from Frasers Group and Hammerson. The Metrocentre Partnership, which includes the Church Commissioners and Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund, placed Metrocentre up for sale in June, although it is understood that Landsec could pay well in excess of the £500m asking price. This could mean that the REIT may have to ask shareholders for additional funds. Spanning two million square feet, Metrocentre is one of the largest shopping centres in Europe and is home to tenants such as Zara, JD Sports, Marks & Spencer, Primark, and Urban Outfitters. Recent additions include Hollister, Lovisa, and KENJI. If an acquisition is completed, Metrocentre would join the likes of Liverpool ONE, Bluewater, and Gunwharf Quays within Landsec’s portfolio of shopping centres.
