Posts from December 2024

CBRE appoints head of operational real estate

4th December 2024

CBRE has promoted executive director Tom Morgan to the position of head of operational real estate (OPRE), effective from January 1st. In his new position, Morgan will look to drive further growth for CBRE’s UK OPRE business, which comprises the healthcare, hotel, pub, leisure, self storage, automative, and roadside sectors. CBRE said that Morgan will work closely with the wider OPRE leadership team to provide integrated solutions for clients during a time of improved investor interest in the sector. The firm’s OPRE valuation team will continue to be led by Al McCutchion. Morgan joined CBRE 17 years ago and has primarily been responsible for the development of the firm’s healthcare offering across the UK. David Batchelor, former head of operational real estate, will move into a chair role within the UK business, focused on the investment market. Tom Morgan said: “I’ve been fortunate to work in this team for many years, surrounded by 150 specialists with unrivalled property, operational and financial expertise. OPRE is now an established sector and I’m hugely excited to take over from David’s outstanding leadership tenure as we enter the next phase of growth.”

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Savills to advise Wendy’s franchisee on South West expansion

4th December 2024

Wendy’s franchisee Khidmat Limited has appointed Savills to aid the American quick-service restaurant’s expansion in the South West of England. Savills is targeting locations in Bath, Exeter, and Plymouth due to their high foot traffic from tourists and students, as well as their strong local economies. Khidmat – which is the fifth franchisee to sign a development agreement with Wendy’s in the UK – is considering high-traffic sites, including drive-through, shopping centre, and retail park units that span approximately 2,500 sq ft. Headquartered in Dublin, Ohio, Wendy’s first opened in 1969 and has grown to operate more than 7,200 restaurants, with 1,200 of these located outside of the United States. The brand is best-known for its made-to-order square hamburgers. Wendy’s has a long-term plan to expand to 400 restaurants in the UK, having recently opened at the Academy Business Park in Kirkby, Liverpool for its first bricks-and-mortar location in the region. Jessica Hill, surveyor in restaurants and leisure at Savills, said: “Wendy’s has experienced phenomenal global growth in recent years, making substantial investments in local resources to strengthen its foothold for its ambitious expansion plans. We are delighted to be working with Khidmat in the South West to help bolster Wendy’s...

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SpaceNK opening caps off busy year of retail deals at Centre:mk

4th December 2024

SpaceNK has opened at Centre:mk, rounding off a busy year of retail openings and investments at the Milton Keynes scheme. The beauty retailer has opened a 1,721 sq ft store on Silbury Arcade, showcasing a selection of makeup and skincare products from over 100 brands. The new store features a dedicated consultation area for customers, who will also be able to sign up to SpaceNK’s loyalty scheme to earn redeemable points. SpaceNK becomes the latest in a series of openings at Centre:mk this year, with over 20 brands signing, opening, or reinvesting at the destination in 2024, amounting to almost 150,000 sq ft of space. Key openings this year at the scheme include Mint Velvet, Castore, Goldsmiths, and Office. Kevin Duffy, Centre:mk’s centre director, said: “SpaceNK’s launch is a fantastic way to bring 2024 retail openings to a close, following a year of significant investment from leading brands. This commitment from high-profile brands further reinforces Centre:mk’s reputation as a key regional destination, where that offers exceptional trading opportunities and high value for our retail partners.” The opening follows the recent launch of Centre:mk’s Smart City Experience Centre. In a UK-first, the 3,870 sq ft centre looks to serve as a...

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AEW appoints Green & Partners to Windsor Royal

3rd December 2024

AEW has appointed specialist retail agency Green & Partners as joint agents at Windsor Royal. Adam Bindman, Matt Beardall, and Sophie Marich have been appointed to work alongside joint agent GCW. Spanning 575,000 sq ft, Windsor Royal incorporates Windsor Royal Station and Windsor Yards Shopping Centre. AEW’s Urban Real Estate Fund (UREF) acquired Windsor Royal Station in 2023 alongside an adjacent property for £18.5m. Situated opposite Windsor Castle, the 74,200 sq ft scheme forms part of Windsor & Eton Central train station and was originally built for the exclusive use of the Royal Family. Tenants include Space NK, Jo Malone, Sweaty Betty and Cambridge Satchel Co. GCW were appointed to the scheme shortly after UREF’s purchase. Windsor Yards Shopping Centre spans 260,000 sq ft and was acquired by UREF in May 2021. GCW have worked on the shopping centre for over 20 years. The shopping centre is home to the likes of Zara, H&M, Oliver Bonas, White Company and Waitrose.

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British Land to launch public consultation for major Glasgow Fort expansion

3rd December 2024

British Land is set to launch a public consultation regarding plans for a 60,000 sq ft expansion of Glasgow Fort retail park. Included in the proposals is the creation of new retail space as well as more leisure experiences, including tenpin bowling, karaoke, laser quest, and escape rooms. British Land said the plans have been created in response to increasing demand from visitors to Glasgow Fort, and that the new additions will complement the existing retail and leisure offering. Recent additions to Glasgow Fort include Rituals, Primark, and Zara, which opened its largest store in Scotland. British Land will now hold a consultation period from December 9th both online and in-person at Glasgow Fort. Ross McCall, retail leasing & commercialisation director at British Land, said: “It’s been an incredibly successful year at Glasgow Fort, where we have welcomed several popular national and regional brands, which has further enhanced the overall experience for our visitors. “These expansion proposals are the next phase of our continued investment into Glasgow Fort, as we seek to create a vibrant and thriving retail destination and reaffirm our commitment to providing a leading retail, leisure and dining experience that reflects the changing needs and wants of...

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Wingstop continues expansion with Bradford opening

3rd December 2024

Wingstop UK has continued its expansion with its latest opening at The Broadway in Bradford. Spanning 2,800 sq ft, the chicken wing restaurant chain’s newest venue will host 50 covers and look to build on the brand’s presence in Leeds and Manchester, where it has five restaurants and two delivery kitchens. Having launched in 2018, Wingstop UK is set to have 57 sites by the end of the year, with plans to reach 200 locations within the next five years. Last month, the chain was named as one of the top 10 most-love eating-out brands in the UK, according to Savanta’s 2024 rankings. Chris Sherriff, CEO at Wingstop UK, said: “We’re excited to expand our reach in the North with today’s opening in Bradford. Thanks to the teams for their hard work towards opening here as we bring the best-tasting wings in the business to The Broadway’s hungry shoppers. As our UK expansion continues at pace, we’re looking forward to opening more sites across the UK in 2025, to meet the unparalleled demand for our wings.” In September, Wingstop UK named Adrian Saunders as head of acquisitions, as it continues to grow its footprint. The brand’s expansion is being supported...

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Go Outdoors pitches up at Manchester Arndale

3rd December 2024

Camping retailer Go Outdoors is set to join Manchester Arndale after agreeing a deal to take a 21,565 sq ft unit. Making its return to Manchester, the brand will offer equipment such as footwear, tents, and fishing gear across 12,000 sq ft of retail space. The store will also provide specialist services including boot and rucksack fitting. Go Outdoors adds to the existing array of retailers at Manchester Arndale, including recent additions such as Castore, Trailberg, Nike, and Represent – which made its UK debut in the last few weeks. Scott Linard, portfolio manager for M&G Real Estate, said: “Go Outdoors is an exciting brand and a big name in the outdoor clothing and equipment world, so we are thrilled to welcome them to Manchester Arndale. We strive to offer a diverse range of apparel and clothing for our shoppers which we have demonstrated this year by adding a vibrant array of retailers.” Steve Gray, head of European retail asset management at Global Mutual, added: “Having a strong mix of brands is crucial to our mission of maintaining our status as the North West’s leading retail destination. Our strong mix of retailers helps to attract both high footfall and spend...

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Café concept makes West End debut in Soho

2nd December 2024

Asian-inspired artisanal café concept Nagare Coffee is set to open its first location in London’s West End in Shaftesbury Capital’s Soho neighbourhood. Opening in a 1,300 sq ft space at 2 Newburgh Street this December, Nagare Coffee in Soho becomes the brand’s second bricks-and-mortar location, joining its debut site in Spitalfields. Nagare, which means to ‘flow’ in Japanese, looks to take an alternative approach to the coffee shop, with a priority on premium beans and a menu offering a variety of single-origin, hand-filtered coffee from around the world. Nagare Coffee joins an existing ‘stop-and-pause’ offer in the Carnaby Street and Soho area, joining the likes of Donutelier, which opened in November. Dora Lau, co-owner of Nagare Coffee, said: “Nagare Coffee is the perfect café for the vibrant neighbourhood of Soho, bringing artisan practices and produce that will resonate with visitors. Hospitality contributes an enormous amount to the experience of Carnaby Street and Soho, so we cannot wait to embed ourselves within this leading location. As we build our reputation in London, there’s nowhere better for exposure to an informed audience.” The news follows the announcement that specialist Basque cheesecake vendor La Maritxu has recently joined the Soho neighbourhood at 10...

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Waitrose opens first store in six years and makes convenience market push

2nd December 2024

Waitrose has opened its first store in six years in Hampton Hill, south west London, with the new location becoming the retailer’s 47th operated convenience store. Waitrose said it will now focus on opening smaller convenience stores of around 3,000 sq ft, but has also confirmed it is looking at opportunities for larger convenience stores around double that size too. The opening comes as the retailer plans to build on its existing partnerships with Welcome Break and Shell. In its partnership with roadside operator Welcome Break, Waitrose is planning to target more new locations, having opening on the A14 in Spaldwick, Cambridgeshire, in November. The retailer will also open on the M1 in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, in January, with a third location set to open in 2025. Waitrose has been in partnership with Welcome Break since 2009, and currently trades as Little Waitrose from 27 of its motorway service areas. The new stores will be the first the retailer has opened with Welcome Break in 11 years. Waitrose has also now reached over 100 Shell forecourt shops, with plans to open more in 2025. James Bailey, executive director for Waitrose, said: “The long associated stereotypes of food at forecourts and...

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Popeyes makes Scottish shopping centre debut at Braehead

2nd December 2024

Fried chicken restaurant chain Popeyes is set to open for the first time within a Scottish shopping centre at Glasgow’s Braehead Shopping Centre. Seating up to 74 diners, the restaurant will serve Popeyes’ signature dishes including chicken sandwiches, wings, tenders, and biscuits with gravy. As part of an ongoing expansion, Popeyes at Braehead Shopping Centre will become the brand’s 65th restaurant in the UK and its fourth in Scotland. The addition of Popeyes highlights Braehead Shopping Centre’s aim to enhance its portfolio and attract a diverse customer base, including a younger demographic. Rob Jewell, managing director at scheme asset manager Pradera Lateral, said: “We continually seek to offer customers the best dining and retail experiences, and Popeyes’ unique range will undoubtedly be a popular addition to our already extensive range. With Braehead being the first Scottish shopping centre to house this iconic brand, it will provide visitors with an opportunity to try a new and highly anticipated eatery, ultimately enhancing their overall experience at the centre.”

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Victoria Leeds welcomes local restaurant operator for new concept

2nd December 2024

Victoria Leeds is set to welcome Indian restaurant operator Tharadavu for its new concept, UYARE. The Leeds-based, award-winning operator is set to open its new venue in January, taking 7,000 sq ft within Victoria Gate. With space for between 150 and 180 guests, UYARE will feature distinct areas such as ‘Bhoomi – The Earth Restaurant’ and ‘Agni – The Fire Bar’. The menu will look to offer an array of traditional Kerala dishes whilst the bar will include a selection of wines, champagnes, cocktails, and local craft beers. Rachel Bradburn, leasing director at Victoria Leeds, said: “To welcome such a popular and successful local operator to Victoria Leeds, and support their wider regional growth, is a really exciting prospect. Independent, regional brands continue to play a key role in our tenant mix and we are pleased to welcome Tharavadu’s newest concept to our established food and drink line-up, providing yet another quality option for our customers.” Prakash Mendonca, director at Tharavadu, added: “As Leeds is our hometown, we are deeply committed to staying local, and it’s a privilege to be part of this vibrant community. Opening UYARE at Victoria Gate is a significant milestone for us—a chance to celebrate our...

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