Posts from January 2026

Claire’s and The Original Factory Shop to be put into administration

6th January 2026

Claire’s and The Original Factory Shop are being put into administration, casting doubt upon the futures of almost 300 stores. Modella Capital, which owns both retailers, said the retailers would enter insolvency proceedings across the UK and Ireland, with the process able to provide them time to find new buyers. Accessories specialist Claire’s and discount retailer The Original Factory Shop operate 154 and 140 stores respectively. Modella Capital acquired Claire’s UK estate and intellectual property in autumn 2025, after the retailer’s previous collapse into administration which saw the closure of over 140 stores. Claire’s has been seeking a buyer since July after its US-based owner filed for bankruptcy. Modella has owned The Original Factory Shop since early last year. The investment firm said: “This has been a very tough decision. We have worked intensively in an effort to save both businesses, having made last-ditch attempts to rescue them, but neither has a realistic possibility of trading profitably again.” “A combination of very weak consumer confidence, highly adverse government fiscal policies and continued cost inflation is causing many established and much-loved businesses to suffer badly,” the group added.

News

Retail standout property class in 2025, with 9.5% returns expected this year

6th January 2026

Retail property has re-established itself as a core real estate investment sector, according to research from Knight Frank, outperforming all traditional property classes in 2025. The sector is also forecast to deliver total returns of approximately +9.5% in 2026. According to Knight Frank, online penetration of the retail sector has now flatlined at around 28%, with retailers now allocating capital back into their bricks-and-mortar estates. The research also found that total retail investment volumes are forecast to reach £5.83bn in 2025, down 17% year-on-year and 8% below the 10-year average. This shortfall is largely down to a lack of available stock, rather than weakening demand. With pricing strengthening and rental growth feeding through, transaction levels improved meaningfully in the second half of the year, and Knight Frank said this momentum is expected to carry into 2026. Retail also delivered +9.2% total returns year-to-date to Q3 2025, the strongest performance of all traditional property sectors, outperforming industrial (+9.1%), offices (+3.2%) and all property (+6.6%). Shopping centres and food stores, which have seen an uptick in sale-and-leaseback transactions, were the joint top performers, each delivering +10.2%. Shopping centres recorded a turnaround in sentiment and performance. Transaction volumes accelerated sharply in the second...

News

L&G offloads £10.4m Nottinghamshire leisure park

6th January 2026

Legal & General (L&G) has sold Mansfield Leisure Park in Nottinghamshire for £10.37m, reflecting a net initial yield of 9.74%. The asset was acquired by a private property company controlled by two Irish investors. Spanning 75,052 sq ft, the leisure park is anchored by an eight-screen Odeon cinema and a recently regeared bingo hall let to Club 3000. It also comprises a three-unit restaurant parade let to Nando’s, Bella Italia, and Serenity, alongside a McDonald’s drive-through which has also recently been regeared. Situated in a prominent position off Nottingham Road (A60) and immediately south west of Mansfield town centre, the leisure park sits within an established retail cluster adjacent to Sainsbury’s, Aldi and Currys, with Mansfield Town Football Club nearby. Montagu Evans advised L&G, whiles Barker Proudlove advised the buyer. Ed George, partner at Montagu Evans, said: “Mansfield Leisure Park is a well-located asset with limited direct competition and strong occupational fundamentals. This has been reinforced by the willingness of multiple tenants to regear their leases prior to the sale and commit to the park for the long term. These initiatives no doubt increased liquidity and broadened the appeal of the asset. The deal reflects a strong result for our...

News

Sweaty Betty opens first West Midlands store at Touchwood Solihull

6th January 2026

Sweaty Betty has opened its first store in the West Midlands at Touchwood in Solihull. The women’s activewear brand, known for its range of gym and yoga apparel, has taken a 2,283 sq ft unit, fronting onto Solihull High Street, on a five-year lease. Sweaty Betty joins a number of major brands at Touchwood, including Apple – which recently tripled its presence at the scheme – John Lewis, Zara, Mango, Rituals, Miele, Oliver Bonas, and the newly-opened Space NK. Following its acquisition of Touchwood in 2021, owner The Ardent Companies and asset manager Sovereign Centros from CBRE have looked to implement a strategy focused on diversifying and expanding the destination’s tenant mix and offer by bringing in new retail brands, dining options, and leisure operators. Joe Swindells, asset management and development director for Ardent, said: “Sweaty Betty is indicative of the aspirational brands we have worked hard to bring to Touchwood, and its arrival at the scheme – for its first store in the West Midlands – represents yet another fantastic addition to what we can offer visitors.” Cushman & Wakefield and Knight Frank are Touchwood’s retained leasing agents.

Deals News

Buvette to open first London restaurant at Covent Garden’s Neal’s Yard

6th January 2026

Buvette, the restaurant concept by chef Jody Williams, is set to open its first location in London within Covent Garden’s Neal’s Yard. The restaurant will occupy a 2,800 sq ft, 80-cover space at 2 Neal’s Yard, offering day-to-night dining options, and benefitting from al fresco seating. The Covent Garden opening will mark Buvette’s debut site in the capital, joining its restaurants in New York, Paris, Seoul, and Tokyo. Buvette in London will look to complement the existing mix of chef-led dining concepts at Covent Garden, including the neighbouring St. JOHN Neal’s Yard Bakery and Bar, Story Cellar, and The Barbary, as well as FROG by Adam Handling and Café Murano within the wider neighbourhood. The concept will also sit alongside a pipeline of recent and forthcoming openings, including Burro, the new concept from Conor Gadd at 2 Floral Court, modern Indian restaurant Kricket – which is set to open in Neal’s Yard later this year, and Harry’s, now open on Russell Street. Emma Matus, head of restaurant leasing at Shaftesbury Capital, said: “The signing of Buvette is a clear endorsement of Covent Garden’s position as London’s leading destination for chef-led dining. Securing a globally recognised, founder-driven concept of this calibre for...

Deals News

London’s The O2 hails record year for sales and footfall

5th January 2026

The O2 in London is celebrating a record year, with 2025 seeing an increase in both sales and footfall across retail, leisure, and F&B at the waterside destination. In 2025, The O2 welcomed over 11 million visitors, an increase of 9.4% compared to the previous year and 23% up compared to 2023. Meanwhile, sales across the destination were up by 12% year-on-year. Outlet Shopping at The O2 in particular saw an increase in sales of 15% compared to 2024. A number of retail categories also saw double-digit growth, with beauty, accessories, confectionery, and footwear up 17%, 18%, 17%, and 24% respectively against 2024. On Boxing Day, the outlet centre experienced its highest sales day of the year, with an increase of 7% compared to 2024, while Black Friday Weekend saw sales rise by 12% vs 2024. Over the course of the year, Outlet Shopping at The O2 welcomed 16,679 sq ft of new lettings, including Rituals, as well as London outlet debuts for Kate Spade New York, Jack & Jones, New Era, Lovisa, and T.M Lewin. In addition, there were nine renewals and seven sample sales, with brands including Scamp and Dude and Hackett. Sales also increased within the destination’s...

News

Seasalt planning 10 new openings a year

5th January 2026

Seasalt has unveiled its latest expansion plans, with the fashion retailer now looking to open 10 new stores a year. The brand – which operates 79 stores across the UK and Ireland – is also reportedly in the final stages of negotiating three new openings this year, according to The Times. Paul Hayes, chief executive of Seasalt, told the paper: “It has undoubtedly been a challenging year for the retail industry, with new challenges consistently facing our sector, and this is unlikely to change significantly as we move in to a new year. “However, we have built a very resilient business model, particularly over the last five or six years, and we’re confident we can navigate these times and continue or growth trajectory.” He added that the retailer is also potentially looking at the EU for further growth opportunities. Within the UK, Seasalt is believed to be targeting market towns for new openings.

News

Canary Wharf’s proposals for new outdoor swimming pool green lit

5th January 2026

Planning permission for an outdoor, natural water swimming pool in London’s Canary Wharf have been approved by councillors. Complementing the recent regeneration of Eden Dock, Sea Lanes Canary Wharf is set to feature a 50-metre, six-lane pool within the dock water, with amenities including two saunas, a community clubhouse, a food and beverage offering, and a store. Open 364 days a year, the venue will be operated by the team behind Sea Lanes Brighton, the UK’s first National Open Water Swimming Centre. Joe McNulty, director at Sea Lanes, said: “We’re thrilled to bring a National Open Water Swimming Centre to the heart of Canary Wharf, offering Londoners a chance to swim in natural water. Sea Lanes Canary Wharf will be more than just a swimming pool – it will be an urban oasis for health and wellbeing all set within the green and biodiverse waterfront of Eden Dock. We’re excited to create a space where Londoners can connect with nature, their community, and themselves.” Shobi Khan, CEO at Canary Wharf Group, added: “Almost one year on from the opening of Eden Dock, we’re making another bold step forward in the enhancement of our green and blue spaces at Canary Wharf. Sea Lanes Canary Wharf will...

News

Commercial agents appointed at Worcestershire retail and leisure destination

5th January 2026

The Valley in Evesham, Worcestershire has appointed the Bristol office of Carter Jonas as commercial agents, working alongside the landlord Eagle One. Situated within a 115-acre park, the 30-unit retail and leisure scheme is anchored by the 40,000 sq ft Blue Diamond Garden Centre. Tenants at The Valley include Fat Face, ProCook, Quba, Weird Fish, Crew, Barbour, Cotton Traders, Coffee#1, Regatta, and Saltrock. The scheme has also evolved over the last few years to accommodate a blend of retail and leisure, now offering attractions such as Adventure Golf, Aerial Adventure, a miniature Steam Railway, Splash Pad, and walking trails. It is also supplemented by 570 free parking spaces. Phil Maclean, retail director at Eagle One, said: “We are pleased to welcome the Carter Jonas team to assist with our marketing efforts and add to the exciting plans we have for the centre. The Valley is entering an exciting new phase of development and evolution. We’re delighted to welcome Carter Jonas to help us deliver our ambitious plans and create even more reasons for visitors to return.”

News

Filter by Categories