Posts from November 2025

Crocs will open a new store at Livingston Designer Outlet, taking 1,817 sq ft of space at the Scottish outlet shopping centre. Opening in December, the footwear brand’s new space will offer its core collections and accessories, including products for casualwear and outdoor activities. Crocs will add to a line-up of fashion brands that have opened their doors at Livingston Designer Outlet in recent months, including Belstaff, Columbia, and Monsoon. Josh Blatt, senior asset manager at Global Mutual, said: “The opening of the new Crocs store at Livingston Designer Outlet marks an exciting step in the growth of the outlet. Crocs are one of the world’s most iconic footwear brands, and we’re delighted to bring shoppers a new proposition that we are sure they will love.”

Deals

Liverpool ONE scores brace of football-led debuts

Liverpool ONE is set to welcome a pair of football-led concepts, with leisure concept Crossbar and football retailer Pro:Direct Soccer both making their debuts at the scheme next spring. Opening a 6,000 sq ft PD:FC store, Pro:Direct Soccer will offer a range of on-pitch gear, training equipment, terrace-inspired fashion, and tech clothing and trainers. Situated above Pro:Direct will be Crossbar, which will open a 25,000 sq ft venue on Manesty’s Lane. The concept will feature tech-enabled football boxes with reactive projection, motion tracking, and surround sound. It will also include a bar and casual dining area, while upstairs, Club 11 will provide a restaurant experience. This follows the recent announcement that Crossbar will open at Printworks Manchester in June 2026. Rob Deacon, director of asset management at Liverpool ONE, Landsec, said: “Experience is at the heart of everything we do at Liverpool ONE and we want to create enjoyable moments for visitors every time they are here. Crossbar will be a strong new anchor that provides even more reasons to visit or lengthen an existing trip. Joined by PD:FC’s city debut, the brands further reaffirm Liverpool ONE’s position as one of the UK’s leading retail and leisure destinations.” Together with the recently opened...

Deals News

Manchester City opens new Trafford Centre store

Manchester City Football Club has opened a new store at Manchester’s Trafford Centre in collaboration with its retail partner Stichd. Located on the ground floor of Peel Avenue, the 3,111 sq ft store opened its doors last week, offering the club’s kits and the recently released Christmas collection. The Trafford Centre location joins Manchester City’s existing stores across the world, with branches within the Etihad Stadium, the Manchester Arndale Centre, Yas Mall in Abu Dhabi, and most recently a Dubai Mall store, as well as temporary stores in New York City, Seoul, and Shenzen, in recent years. Kate Pearson, portfolio leasing director at Pradera Lateral, asset manager of Trafford Centre, said: “We look forward to welcoming the new City Store to Trafford Centre. This bespoke new retail offering complements our current sportswear retailers whilst also adding a personalised experience for their supporters. We are excited to see their success once the doors open.” Will Rodnight, bead of physical retail at Stichd, added: “We are thrilled to strengthen our partnership with Manchester City through the opening of this third City store in Manchester at the Trafford Centre. Our goal is to create an exceptional retail experience that reflects the passion of City...

Deals News

Wingstop continues expansion with Derbion signing

Wingstop is set to continue its UK expansion after signing for a new location at Derbion in the East Midlands. The American fried chicken restaurant chain – which has over 75 UK locations – has signed a 15-year lease for a 1,700 sq ft unit at the Derby shopping centre. Wingstop at Derbion will offer the chain’s full menu, which includes wings, tenders, and burgers. The brand joins a number of food and beverage operators at Derbion including Bear, Burger & Sauce, German Doner Kebab, Nandos, Pizza Express, Popeyes, Wagamama, and Zizzi. Derbion’s F&B operators have invested a combined £1.2m over the past two years with Zizzi’s and Wagamama all undergoing new refits, while Chopstix recently reopened following a significant investment. Beth McDonald, managing director at Derbion said: “We are pleased to add Wingstop to our thriving F&B line-up, and we believe its offer will really resonate with our younger visitors. Through the additions of innovative and growing F&B brands like Wingstop, alongside the arrival of new leisure activities such as padel and skateboarding, we have created a destination where more people want to come and spend their free time, which in-turn allows our brands to thrive.” Chris Sherriff, CEO at Wingstop...

Deals News

Hammerson takes full ownership at Reading’s Oracle with £104.5m acquisition

Hammerson has acquired full control of The Oracle, Reading, after purchasing the remaining interest from its joint venture partner, a subsidiary of the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, for £104.5m. The real estate investment trust said this purchase price reflects a yield of 8.9%. Under Hammerson’s part-ownership, The Oracle has undergone investment over the last few years including the repurposing of the former House of Fraser store to introduce Tk Maxx and Hollywood Bowl to the scheme. In addition, the centre has secured a flurry of additional leasing deals, including flagship store upsizes with Zara and Apple, both due to open next year, and renewals with the likes of L’Occitane and Space NK. Hammerson said it has exchanged 30 deals at The Oracle in the year-to-date, representing £4.5m of headline rent, or around £21m of rent contracted to first break. The group added that it believes there is additional opportunities to unlock further value, including the former Debenhams and existing cinema block around the riverside, where it is exploring retail, F&B, leisure and build-to-rent options. Rita-Rose Gagné, CEO of Hammerson, said: “We have seized the opportunity to gain full control of The Oracle, an asset in transition, to capture the growth...

News

Frasers Group acquires 1.1 million sq ft Scottish Shopping Centre from SGS UK Retail

Frasers Group has acquired the 1.1 million sq ft Braehead Shopping Centre in Glasgow from SGS UK Retail. The shopping centre has been purchased for an undisclosed fee believed to be around £220m. SGS UK Retail – which also owns the Victoria Centre in Nottingham and Harlequin Watford – has delivered a transformation programme at Braehead since undergoing a restructuring process in 2024. This has resulted in the signing of the first SuperPark in the UK, with the indoor leisure and recreation concept set to make its debut at Braehead early next year. Recent signings and openings at the scheme include MINISO, Snowflake Gelato, and BPerfect. Claire Barber, CEO of SGS UK Retail, said: “The sale of Braehead was always part of our strategic plan and through active management, we have delivered substantial value enhancement and successfully stabilised the asset, attracting new brands and increasing its relevance and appeal to customers. We have created a strong platform from which Frasers Group can continue to drive growth, leveraging its retail expertise to further unlock Braehead’s potential as one of the leading retail destinations in Scotland. “In light of strong leasing performance and the significant progress made in discussions with brands, we continue...

News

Sloane Stanley to bring nearly 10,000 sq ft of pop-ups to Chelsea’s King’s Road

The Sloane Stanley Estate has announced that it will bring a number of arts and F&B pop-ups totalling nearly 10,000 sq ft to Chelsea’s King’s Road between now and January 2026. This includes jewellery brand Bijoux de Mimi, which will open a dedicated pop-up at 324–326 King’s Road throughout December. This marks the brand’s return to the King’s Road for the third time, following spaces which opened in May 2025 and July last year. At 340 King’s Road, a series of rotating art exhibitions will showcase a variety of the UK’s artist groups and galleries, including Chelsea Art Society, open now till the 30th November, Lucinda Dalton Gallery, opening on 2nd December to 25th December, and Linda Blackstone Gallery, opening on 17th December until 5th January. Pasta delivery brand Nonna Tonda was previously operating at 340 King’s Road until the 20th of November, serving a selection of authentic pasta dishes. Prior to Bijoux di Mimi opening next month, Urban Ranch had opened its pop-up at 324-326 King’s Road, offering handcrafted Kenyan products created by local artisans. Hommage Art will also be opening in the same unit from now until 10th December, marking its final pop-up before moving into a permanent...

Deals News

Premium jeweller to make city debut at Liverpool ONE

Premium jewellery retailer Monica Vinader is set to open its first store in Liverpool after agreeing a deal to open at Liverpool ONE. The 1,000 sq ft store will be located in Keys Court and is expected to open in spring 2026. Connecting Church Street with Liverpool ONE’s Peter’s Lane, Keys Court is being redeveloped by scheme owner Landsec into a dual-sided arcade, making use of the former Topshop space to create three boutiques. Monica Vinader will occupy the first, with Landsec seeking complementary lifestyle, accessories, and fashion brands to fill the remaining two. Monica Vinader will join Kiehl’s, L’Occitane and Penhaligon’s to within Keys Court, as Landsec looks to create an inviting arcade area that feeds into Peter’s Lane, Liverpool ONE’s premium lifestyle district. Rob Deacon, director of asset management at Liverpool ONE, Landsec, said: “Monica Vinader is a high quality, highly regarded brand with a very strong following across the region, and perfectly sets the tone for the redevelopment of Keys Court. The signing of the brand is also indicative of our commitment to continually evolve Liverpool ONE based on our deep understanding of consumer needs and wants, and how we deploy that knowledge to create a relevant...

Deals News

Guinness World Records to open debut UK venue at London’s O2

Guinness World Records will open its first permanent entertainment venue in the UK at The O2 in London. Set to open in late 2026, the 25,000 sq ft venue will look to combine competitive socialising with record breaking feats, with visitors able to attempt over 50 official Guinness World Record titles across six challenge areas. In addition, the venue will offer themed food and drink alongside souvenirs. The move into competitive socialising marks the latest diversification of the Guinness World Records business, as it looks to evolve from publisher to global media and entertainment brand. Alistair Wood, executive vice president of real estate and development at AEG Europe, said: “As the world’s most popular music, entertainment, and leisure destination, we are delighted to be the location of choice for Guinness World Records’ first permanent UK venue. The O2 has played a leading role in the emergence of competitive socialising nationally, and this new concept elevates our offer to another level, delivering an iconic, nostalgic, and family-friendly favourite to London. We have no doubt that the new venue will be a huge hit with our visitors and look forward to welcoming a new stream of record breakers to The O2 next...

Deals News

Lidl sells 17 UK stores in £179.4m sale-and-leaseback deal

Lidl has reached an agreement to sell 24 grocery stores, including 17 UK assets, to ICG Real Estate for €203.5m (c.£179.4m). ICG Real Estate, part of global asset manager ICG, will acquire the portfolio on behalf of its Strategic Real Estate II Fund (SRE II), with each asset to be subsequently let to Lidl on a long-term, triple-net lease. Alongside the 17 UK stores, the portfolio, which totals approximately 538,196 sq ft, also comprises four Irish assets and three Spanish stores. Each store ranges in size between 19,160 sq ft and 25,026 sq ft and are currently under various stages of construction. The first acquisition was completed in October 2025, with the final purchase expected to occur in July 2026. Krysto Nikolic, global head at ICG Real Estate, said: “This acquisition aligns perfectly with our investment strategy for SRE II. Through this sale-and-leaseback agreement we have secured a portfolio of brand new, purpose-built and mission-critical properties let on very long-term leases, delivering highly sustainable triple-net income from Lidl, one of the world’s leading grocery brands selling non-discretionary items to consumers. “We are excited to be partnering with Lidl on this mutually beneficial transaction, which provides a route for the grocer...

News

Japanese restaurant joins Lakeside Shopping Centre’s F&B lineup

Japanese dining brand Maki & Ramen is set to join the food and beverage lineup at Lakeside Shopping Centre in Essex. Arriving in early 2026, the restaurant will feature a full sushi bar and a curated menu of Japanese dishes and cocktails. It will also offer both sit-down dining and grab-and-go convenience options. Maki & Ramen joins a roster of brands at Lakeside Shopping Centre that includes new additions such as NEXT, Reiss, Toni & Guy, JD Sports, and Charles Tyrwhitt, all of which opened this year. Max Collett, associate director of asset management at Pradera Lateral, said: “Maki & Ramen is a fantastic addition to Lakeside’s growing mix of vibrant F&B brands. Their arrival at Lakeside reflects our ambition to continually raise the bar, bringing in operators that not only deliver great food but also create memorable experiences that keep our guests coming back.” Leasing for the deal was managed by LM Real Estate (formerly Lunson Mitchenall) and Metis Real Estate.

Deals News

Jewellery brand picks Victoria Leeds for first standalone store in the North

APM Monaco has signed for a new boutique at Victoria Leeds, marking a north of England debut for the contemporary jewellery retailer. Located within Victoria Quarter, the new store will span 1,300 sq ft across two floors. APM Monaco joins a growing lineup of jewellers at Victoria Leeds including the recently-opened Dinny Hall as well as legacy brands such as Boodles, Berry’s, and Daniella Draper. Known for its modern designs, APM Monaco operates hundreds of boutiques worldwide across more than 25 countries, and is currently expanding its footprint in Europe and beyond. Rachel Bradburn, head of leasing at Redical, said: “APM Monaco joins Victoria Leeds at an exciting moment. Their balance of elevated design and accessible luxury presents a compelling new dimension to our jewellery mix. Choosing our destination for their first standalone store in the north underlines our growing profile as a go-to location for leading heritage and contemporary names. We look forward to seeing APM Monaco’s unique character come to life at Victoria Leeds.” This announcement follows a number of recent openings at Victoria Leeds, including Dinny Hall’s first venture beyond London and Wax London’s debut outside the capital. Lunson Mitchenall and Central Retail act for Redical. KLM...

Deals News

Comment: Retail growth and changing demands mean that centre managers are now place managers

As the retail landscape continues to evolve, the role of a shopping centre manager has undergone a significant transformation. Once primarily transactional, their responsibilities now encompass a broader, more strategic focus including driving initiatives around events, partnerships, community engagement, and sustainability.

Insights News

Flight Club to join Reading’s £850m Station Hill development

Social darts venue operator Flight Club is set to join Reading’s Station Hill after signing a 15-year lease at the £850m mixed-use development. The leisure operator will take a 6,211 sq ft unit at ONE Station Hill, the 275,000 sq ft office space that anchors the centre of the Station Hill scheme. The venue will front over two acres of new public realm which has connected the town centre to Reading Station and provided a number of open spaces. Flight Club will join retail and leisure brands such as Berkshire-based Siren Craft Brew and Notes Coffee Roasters, as well as Italian Trattoria Angelos, Japanese restaurant Kawaii and 1650 Coffee Co. It will also look to complement the network of global businesses at ONE Station Hill, including PwC, NewFlex, PepsiCo and Kenvue. Alex Aitchison at Lincoln Property Company and on behalf of the Lincoln MGT joint venture, which is bringing forward Station Hill, said: “It’s fantastic to be welcoming Flight Club to Station Hill, right in the heart of Reading. Station Hill is already a buzzing, well-connected destination that people in Reading enjoy and take pride in. “We’re confident that Flight Club will add even more energy to that experience and strengthen...

Deals News

The White Company to open standalone store at Manchester’s Trafford Centre

The White Company is set to open a standalone store at Manchester’s Trafford Centre, building on over 20 years of trading within the centre’s Selfridges department store. Opening in March 2026, the lifestyle brand’s store will span approximately 5,600 sq ft and become The White Company’s largest space to open since its stores at Bluewater and Westfield London. The new store will be located on Lower Regent Crescent, just off the Main Dome, and join almost 80 The White Company locations across the UK and Ireland. Kelly Clarke, chief people and retail officer at The White Company, said: “Trafford’s unique retail offering, coupled with our previous success in Selfridges, was a key factor in our decision to bring The White Company to the center – it is the perfect home for the brand to showcase our collections. This opening cements our continued commitment to investing in bricks and mortar on the UK high street and we look forward to welcoming all our new customers to explore our new spring collections.” Kate Pearson, portfolio leasing director at Pradera Lateral, Trafford Centre’s asset manager, added: “We are delighted and incredibly excited to welcome The White Company to Trafford Centre. This Iconic British brand offers luxurious homewares...

Deals News

The Knightsbridge Estate brings two international brands to London’s Brompton Road

The Knightsbridge Estate has signed international retailers Aurélien and On for new stores on Brompton Road in Central London. Making its UK debut, fashion and lifestyle house Aurélien will take a 3,228 sq ft space at 59 Brompton Road, in the heart of Knightsbridge. The store will offer a range of footwear, apparel, and accessories crafted in Italy and across Europe. The opening marks the brand’s first permanent presence in London, following pop-ups at Harrods, Selfridges, and Printemps. Meanwhile, Swiss premium sportswear brand On will take 7,500 sq ft on Brompton Road. The store will offer a product range that includes shoes, apparel, and accessories for running and outdoor activities, training, all-day use, and tennis. The Knightsbridge Estate said the signings reflect its long-term retail vision of curating a distinctive mix of world-renowned fashion houses, contemporary designers and premium lifestyle brands. The latest signings follow a series of enhancements and additions across The Knightsbridge Estate. Recent highlights include the openings of Japanese restaurant CLAP and its all-day café concept CLAP Ka-FE, luxury fashion house Dolce&Gabbana’s arrival on Sloane Street, the opening of premium retailer Coach on Brompton Road, and the pedestrianisation of Basil Street alongside a new step-free entrance to Knightsbridge...

Deals News

Søstrene Grene makes city debut at Gloucester Quays