Latest News

Wetherspoon adds more rooms to its Wolverhampton revamp plans

28th November 2023

JD Wetherspoon has submitted revised plans for a pub in Wolverhampton which would see the creation of a further 25 hotel rooms and another floor. The group’s earlier proposals for The Moon Under Water – which were approved in September – looked to redevelop the pub to create a 72-bedroom hotel as well as a heritage centre. The pub giant had originally secured planning permission from the local council in March 2020 to add an additional floor to the pub as part of wider developments. If approved by the City of Wolverhampton Council, the revised proposals will also see the creation of an additional 21 hotel rooms in a newly-built fourth floor, plus an additional four rooms in an extension over an existing flat roof. The 40,000 sq ft space which sits above The Moon Under Water has lain empty for over 33 years after being home to an old Co-op store. The building, which sits opposite the Grand Theatre, is set to benefit from a redevelopment of Lichfield Street laid out in Wolverhampton Council’s centre transformation programme. City of Wolverhampton Council leader, councillor Stephen Simkins, said: “This revised planning application from Wetherspoon to develop additional hotel rooms on top […]

Savills completes Nash Bond acquisition

28th November 2023

Savills has acquired Central London-based retail agency and lease consultancy firm Nash Bond. Nash Bond – which was founded in 2003 by Mark Nash and Andrew Bond – has 11 directors and specialises in the retail, food and beverage, and leisure sectors. The firm works in both an agency and lease advisory capacity, with clients including major London estates such as Cadogan, Crown, and Portman, as well as developers and real estate investment trusts including Shaftesbury Capital, British Land, Crosstree, Great Portland Estates, Argent, Landsec, and Lendlease. Nash Bond also advises many UK and international funds, developers, and private investors as well as retailers. The Nash Bond acquisition will allow Savills to enhance the strength of its 20-strong Central London retail business, whilst enabling it to expand its global retail offer to clients. Savills’ Central London team has recently closed deals with Uniqlo and Footasylum on Oxford Street, and Gucci on Bond Street. Nash Bond will be rebranded to Savills with immediate effect. James Sparrow, chief executive officer of Savills UK and EMEA, said: “We are thrilled to have acquired this fantastic business that we have long admired with such a great reputation.  We have seen a significant recovery in...

News

Vegan restaurant Hank’s Dirty opens permanently in Norwich

28th November 2023

Vegan 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 2023

Zara 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 2023

Jollyes 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.

PROPERTY OF THE WEEK

Completely Retail

82 Dockhead Street

The property comprises a substantial aluminium framed and glazed frontage retail unit, which forms the ground floor beneath a traditional three-storey residential building. There is a well-proportioned ground floor sales area, along with a WC and tea prep facilities at the rear.
Completely Retail

Insights

Lone Design Club: Attracting Gen Z “biggest challenge” for landlords

23rd November 2023

Getting 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 2023

Colliers 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 2023

Savills 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.

EVENTS

Completely Retail

Nordic Retail News

This is your monthly round-up of what’s been happening in Nordic Retail News. From the expansion of well-known fashion brands to new store locations you didn’t think possible, the Nordics is full of exciting new developments. Completely Retail Marketplace is here to tell you a bit more about them! Read the below Snapshot blog post to hear […]

crmarketplace london event

More Latest Retail News

Shaftesbury Capital completes £82m of asset disposals

27th November 2023

Shaftesbury Capital completed £82m worth of asset disposals between July and mid-November, as the real estate investment trust (REIT) reports a strong start to the Christmas period. The REIT – which manages a portfolio across London’s West End – said the asset disposals were 12% ahead of its June 2023 valuation, with 5% of its total portfolio value initially identified to be recycled. During the period, Shaftesbury Capital saw high footfall across its West End estate, with customers reporting sales in aggregate 12% above 2022 levels and 16% ahead of 2019 levels. The REIT also said demand for its properties had remained high, with leasing activity in the second half of the year totalling 220 transactions worth £15.6m worth of rent. In the year to date, Shaftesbury Capital completed 440 leasing transactions, representing £30.2m worth of rent. The REIT said that vacancy rates had remained low at only 2.2%. Ian Hawksworth, Shaftesbury Capital chief executive, said: “Our excellent performance has continued into the second half, with a strong start to the Christmas trading period. The West End is one of the most vibrant global destinations with an unrivalled concentration of entertainment and cultural attractions. Footfall remains high and customer sales […]

Cushman & Wakefield appoints partner to Capital Markets team

27th November 2023

Cushman & Wakefield has appointed James Yates as partner in its UK Capital Markets team, leading the firm’s investment activity in Yorkshire and the North East. With 15 years’ experience in real estate advisory, Yates joins from Avison Young, where he was most recently a director in the firm’s Capital Markets team. He has advised a mixture of clients – including Aviva, CBRE IM, Copley Point Capital, M7, and local authorities – on a number of commercial property transactions across multiple sectors. Yates will be based at Cushman & Wakefield’s Leeds office, and will advise on the acquisition and disposals of commercial investments. Jeremy Beckett, head of National Capital Markets at Cushman & Wakefield, said: “We are thrilled to welcome James to Cushman & Wakefield. Our Capital Markets team is made up of specialists with a thorough understanding of capital sources and pricing in the market, as well as the evolving needs of occupiers and what that means for investors throughout the country. James’ experience and considerable local market knowledge will complement the existing team and further strengthen our first-rate investment advisory service for clients.” James Yates added: “It is an exciting time to join Cushman & Wakefield. The Yorkshire...

Mountain Warehouse eyes 50 new stores next year

27th November 2023

Mountain Warehouse is targeting 50 new store openings in 2024 as it records all-time-high sales this year. The outdoor and camping retailer is opening a new store every week in the run-up to Christmas, building on its estate of 370 sites worldwide. Mountain Warehouse opened new stores in Swindon and Newark last week and will open shops in Lincoln, Hexham, and Stratford-upon-Avon before Christmas. The retailer has also opened three standalone Animal shops in the coastal towns of Padstow, Bude and Abersoch. Mountain Warehouse recently agreed to join Lancaster’s Marketgate shopping centre. This comes as Mountain Warehouse reported a record revenue of £371m in the year ending February 2023. This was a year-on-year increase of 22.6%, although the retailer recorded a loss of £1.5m due to increased costs. During the six months to 31 August 2023, the retailer saw its sales increase to £171m and its underlying profit reach £6.7m, bolstered by a wet summer which saw an increase in sales of waterproof jackets. Mark Neale, founder of Mountain Warehouse, said: “During Covid, there was a belief that nobody was ever going to go to a store again, and their days were numbered, but that’s proved to be completely wide […]
News

KLM makes partner promotion

27th November 2023

KLM Real Estate has promoted Jack Hesketh to the role of partner. Hesketh has worked at the real estate firm since 2016, primarily in its retail agency division. There he advised international retail brands and key landlord clients across central London. During his time at KLM, Hesketh has worked with retail clients including including Jimmy Fairly, Sessun, Charlotte Tilbury, Penhaligon’s, Itsu, Sunspel, Sezane, LFDY, Starbucks, and Balibaris. He has also advised a number of clients on opening their first physical stores in the capital. His landlord clients include The Crown Estate. Mostafa Sbitri, partner at KLM Real Estate, said: “Jack’s promotion recognises his talent and effort within our London and International agency business during some of the most challenging times. We’re delighted to recognise this achievement”.
News