Posts from July 2026

LCP serves up Nando’s at M Parc Fforestfach

24th July 2026

LCP UK, part of M Core, has welcomed the arrival of Nando’s at M Parc Fforestfach in Wales, marking the sixth new letting at the scheme in under 12 months. The restaurant operator has taken a 3,945 sq ft unit on a 15-year lease. The opening completes the repositioning of the retail park’s food and beverage offer that began with the signing of Wingers earlier this year. These two operators sit alongside a number of brands that have recently joined the scheme, including Jollyes, Zuno Play, Anytime Fitness, and TanTastic. Together, these operators span the food and beverage, health and fitness, pet retail, and children’s entertainment categories, a mix which has been designed to extend dwell time, distribute footfall across visit types, and reduce the income concentration risk that comes with a narrower occupier base. Adam Martin, director and head of the Bristol office at LCP UK, part of M Core, said: “Nando’s opening is another strong step forward for Fforestfach. It’s a brand with genuine pulling power, and its arrival alongside the other new occupiers over the past year shows the shift we’ve made in this park’s profile. Six lettings in under 12 months reflects a deliberate strategy, and...

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Proposals approved for next phase of development at Fareham Shopping Centre

24th July 2026

Proposals for the next phase of development at Fareham Shopping Centre in Hampshire have been approved by councillors. At a Special Executive meeting, Fareham Borough Council agreed proposals to progress a programme of improvements to the shopping centre, which includes upgraded entrances, a new shopping arcade, improvements to public squares, modern public toilets, and essential maintenance works. The proposals are a step towards the delivery of a wider Fareham Town Centre Masterplan, and follow positive feedback about the creation of a shopping arcade from residents at public exhibitions and engagement events held over the past nine months. The proposals – which were designed by Leslie Jones Architecture – look to take inspiration from Fareham’s heritage, including the famous colour of Fareham red bricks and the Victorian Railway Viaduct, while also delivering a modern and vibrant destination that supports shopping, leisure and community activities. Simon Martin, leader of Fareham Borough Council, said: “This is an exciting milestone in our plans to regenerate Fareham Town Centre. “These improvements will help create a more welcoming and attractive town centre, building on the success of Fareham Live and encouraging more people to visit, spend time here and support local businesses. “The investment demonstrates our...

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Goldsmiths doubles its presence at Harlequin Watford

24th July 2026

Goldsmiths has opened a significantly upsized showroom at Harlequin Watford, more than doubling its footprint at the scheme. The Watches of Switzerland-owned jewellers has extended its original store by 217% from 1,528 sq ft to 4,840 sq ft, and has introduced its latest hybrid concept to the centre. Situated in close proximity to complementary jewellers Swarovski and Ernest Jones, the new store features expanded dedicated spaces for the Rolex, Tudor, TAG Heuer, Breitling, Longines, and Tissot brands. The space has also led to a new offering to the centre, with branded jewellery areas for Roberto Coin and FOPE. Robert Jewell, managing director of asset management at Pradera, said: “A brand such as Goldsmiths more than doubling in size at Harlequin demonstrates the unrivalled value they see in being at the centre. The retailer’s international, revered reputation reflects the quality we constantly seek to deliver, and signals that Goldsmiths has chosen to expand at Harlequin not only out of necessity due to high sales, but because it recognises the destination’s prime position in the retail market. We are committed to taking measures to ensure any investment is right for the centre, evolving the space in a way that benefits both visitors and the brand alike.”...

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Wittington Investments offloads Nottingham mixed-use block

23rd July 2026

Wittington Investments (WIPL) has completed the off-market sale of 1-9 Lister Gate in Nottingham, a six-storey mixed-use block. The property comprises a retail unit arranged over ground floor and basement levels, alongside 33 student flats located on the upper floors. The retail unit is let to Superdry on a new seven-year lease expiring in 2032. Forge Property and FHP acted for Wittington Investments. Jonathon Mills, equity partner at Forge, said: “With the occupational team at Forge having recently agreed the new letting to Superdry, it was great to help our long-standing client, WIPL, capitalise on the asset management and achieve a successful sale.” This sale follows WIPL’s disposal of a retail block in Newcastle to a French investment firm earlier this year, with Forge also acting for the group on the transaction.

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Business rates for pubs, clubs, and music venues to be cut by 20%

23rd July 2026

The Prime Minister has announced that business rates for pubs, clubs, and music venues across England will be cut by 20% from April 2027. The Government said that this change could save the typical pub an estimated £1,100 next year. The changes will be fully funded, including through reviewing reliefs for businesses that the Government said “do not make a positive contribution to local communities”, such as vape shops. The Government said it will also crack down on businesses that sell through online marketplaces, but do not comply with their tax obligations. The Prime Minister Andy Burnham said: “For too long, governments have stood by while cherished venues have disappeared from our local high streets. So today I am changing that. “This government will back the businesses that people want to see in their communities. I said I would protect pubs and local high streets – the beating heart of our communities – and that’s what we will do. What we’re announcing today is just the start as we work to bring back hope across the country.” Allen Simpson, chief executive of trade body UKHospitality, said the move was a “welcome first step”, but called on the Government to commit...

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KIBOU picks Covent Garden for debut central London restaurant

23rd July 2026

KIBOU Japanese Kitchen & Bar is set to open its first site in central London at 1a Tavistock Street in Covent Garden. The independently owned casual dining group has selected an 8,000 sq ft unit in what will be its largest location yet, with an opening targeted for early 2027. With 210 covers, the restaurant will feature a bar and open sushi kitchen, as well as a private dining space. The Covent Garden restaurant will join KIBOU’s existing sites in Battersea, Cambridge, Cheltenham, Clifton (Bristol), Oxford, and Solihull, with another site opening in Birmingham this autumn. KIBOU will join a number of similar operators across Shaftesbury Capital’s London portfolio, including SUSHISAMBA, Sticks’n’Sushi, and Inamo. Emma Matus, head of restaurant leasing at Shaftesbury Capital, said: “Covent Garden continues to prove itself as one of the world’s premier hospitality destinations, attracting the very best restaurant and bar brands. KIBOU’s arrival will be a fantastic addition to our restaurant mix and we’re excited to see it thrive as it takes on its most ambitious site yet in the heart of the West End.” Sam Horswill, managing director at KIBOU Restaurants, added: “Covent Garden is one of the world’s busiest and most exciting dining destinations, and we’re delighted to be working with the Shaftesbury...

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Cube RE acquires ‘Pitstop’ portfolio to drive new roadside strategy

23rd July 2026

Cube RE, acting on behalf of the Hathaway Opportunity Fund (HFO), its joint venture with NFU Mutual, has acquired the ‘Pitstop’ portfolio as part of its new roadside strategy. The portfolio comprises three In’n’Out Autocentres in Cardiff, Northampton and Wednesbury, alongside a roadside asset in Oswestry, Shropshire, which is let to Gastronomy Foods (trading as KFC), Asda Express (trading as Starbucks), and OK Diners. In addition, the HOF has acquired a roadside site on Glasgow’s Castlebank Street, home to Burger King and Starbucks, together with an EV charging station let to SSE Utility Solutions. The acquisitions form part of Cube RE’s new strategy, led by its dedicated roadside team following the appointment of Tom Morley earlier this year. This will include site sourcing, planning, development, and asset and investment management. Nic Lowry, investment director at Cube RE, says: “We are very pleased to have concluded these initial acquisitions to kick-start our roadside portfolio. These assets act as seed investments for a wider roadside platform strategy, offering strong income returns from good covenants in a sector experiencing increasing demand from both incumbent and new operators. We continue to look at further opportunities — including standing investments, forward-funded developments, and sites with...

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Jack & Jones to open flagship store at Bluewater

22nd July 2026

Jack & Jones is set to open a flagship store at Landsec’s Bluewater Shopping Centre in Kent this October. Spanning 6,370 sq ft, the fashion retailer’s new space will be located on Lower Thames Walk and will be the brand’s second in the UK to feature its ‘One Concept’ design. This was first introduced in late 2024 with the launch of the Jack & Jones’ store on London’s Oxford Street. Situated next to Stradivarius, the store will offer Jack & Jones’ collections of menswear and childrenswear. Products will include everyday essentials, denim collections, and the largest children’s offering across the brand’s UK stores. James Waugh, centre director at Bluewater, said: “We’re always looking to bring new, standout brands to our guests, so securing Jack & Jones and their biggest UK kidswear offering is a big win for us here at Bluewater. “It’s a testament to the continued strength of our retail lineup, and we’re confident this unique new store will be a hit when it opens this October.” Tom Shutlar, head of retail at Jack & Jones, added: “Securing a space at Bluewater is a huge win for us. This will be our second-largest UK store, delivering the same premium...

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The Crown Estate unveils plans to deliver over 169,000 sq ft of new commercial space in London’s West End

22nd July 2026

The Crown Estate has unveiled the next phase of its West End development pipeline, with the group looking to deliver 169,300 sq ft of new retail, hospitality, and office space at 10 Piccadilly and 21-29 Glasshouse Street. At 10 Piccadilly, The Crown Estate will look to deliver a 90,800 sq ft mixed-use development of the Grade II listed building which completes the iconic Regent Street curve. Facing on to Piccadilly Circus, 10 Piccadilly was the original Swan & Edgar department store, and then home to Tower Records in the 1980s. The refurbishment of the building will provide 62,700 sq ft of office space, alongside a 26,400 sq ft hospitality destination across the ground, basement and first floors, and a further 1,700 sq ft of retail space on Regent Street. At 21-29 Glasshouse Street, The Crown Estate will combine two existing office buildings into one commercial scheme. The retrofit project will provide 63,000 sq ft of workplace, with upgraded interiors, a new rooftop space, and an enhanced reception area. The scheme will also deliver 15,500 sq ft of retail space at basement and ground-floor levels. The schemes also look to complement existing plans to upgrade the West End’s public realm through...

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Joint letting agents appointed at Bracknell’s The Lexicon

21st July 2026

The Lexicon in Bracknell, Berkshire, has appointed CBRE and Morgan Williams as joint letting agents. Having launched in 2017, The Lexicon is one of the newest major destinations in the country. Covering nearly one million square feet of retail and leisure space, the scheme is anchored by regional flagships for retailers including for Waitrose, Fenwick, Primark, Sports Direct, and M&S. The scheme was acquired by Realty Income late last year, with a view to attracting high end brands and investing in the existing environment. Morgan Williams has now been introduced alongside CBRE as joint letting agent, following the latter’s reappointment, which includes the retention of its lease consultancy team. Aran Uner, asset manager of The Lexicon, said: “We’re incredibly excited to be the owners of The Lexicon, a modern, high-performing and truly distinctive scheme. Already one of the UK’s top 20 centres and strategically important to Berkshire, it combines a vibrant, best-in-class tenant mix with a unique, high-quality environment that sets it apart.” Jess Ford, director of asset management at Realty Income, added: “Since acquiring the asset, our focus has been on evolution rather than reinvention, building on what already makes The Lexicon so successful, while enhancing the experience to...

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Supermarket Income REIT raises £100m to fund acquisitions

21st July 2026

Supermarket Income REIT has raised £100m through the issue of new shares to fund new acquisitions. The real estate investment trust, which specialises in grocery assets, will look to redeploy the capital into a pipeline of properties worth approximately £216m. The group said the new share issue received strong investor demand, supported by both existing shareholders and new investors joining its register. When the issue was launched last week, Supermarket Income REIT said it expected imminently to acquire a portfolio of three supermarkets for £118m, reflecting a net initial yield of 6.9%. The portfolio comprises a Sainsbury’s in Manchester with a rent of £34 per sq ft. and a 12 year unexpired lease term (ULT), a Tesco store in Edinburgh with a rent of £33 per sq ft. and a ULT of five years, and a Tesco store in Halifax with a rent of £35 per sq ft. and a ULT of eight years. The group also said it has a further pipeline of six UK grocery assets in the UK let to major grocers, with completion expected in the next three months for an aggregate consideration of £98m. Rob Abraham, CEO of Supermarket Income REIT, previously said: ”This fundraise will enable us to continue executing [Supermarket Income...

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Chelmsford retail park fully let following Waitrose opening

21st July 2026

Chelmer Village Retail Park in Chelmsford, Essex is now fully let following the opening of Waitrose at the Redevco-owned scheme. The 10,055 sq ft store includes a 7,000 sq ft sales area, and features two dedicated trolley bays within the car park. This follows Redevco’s acquisition of a £518m UK retail park portfolio in December 2024 from Oxford Properties, which included Chelmer Village. Redevco said leasing momentum has gathered pace across its portfolio in recent months. The Food Warehouse by Iceland has recently replaced Carpetright at Bolton Gate Retail Park. In Staines, The Range took over Homebase’s lease at the beginning of 2025 and subsequently committed to a new lease in December 2025. Lauren Chew, asset manager at Redevco, said: “Waitrose’s decision to launch its newest store at Chelmer Village is a strong endorsement of the park. We are seeing sustained retailer appetite for well-located, convenience-led retail parks, and this collaboration demonstrates the strength of the asset.” CSP Retail and Green Lane Real Estate are the retained letting agents at Chelmer Village Park.

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Mr Fogg’s opens flagship tavern in Covent Garden

21st July 2026

Hospitality operator Inception Group has launched its latest concept, Mr Fogg’s Market Tavern, in Covent Garden’s Market Building in London. Spanning approximately 4,500 sq ft, the venue becomes the largest site within the Mr Frogg’s Tavern collection, joining existing locations in St Martin’s Lane, Soho, Fitzrovia, and Liverpool Street. The venue, which features a dedicated Guinness saloon bar, accommodates up to 130 covers indoors with additional seating for 60 guests outside. Mr Fogg’s Market Tavern looks to enhance the experiential side of the dining offer in Covent Garden, joining a number of existing F&B brands within the destination, including new arrivals Burro and Buvette. Emma Matus, head of restaurant leasing at Shaftesbury Capital, said: “The arrival of Mr Fogg’s Market Tavern in the iconic Market Building is a standout addition to Covent Garden and a testament to our longstanding relationship with Inception Group. The new flagship marks a fourth site for the group within the Shaftesbury Capital portfolio, reflecting the strength of our partnership and the continued confidence that leading operators place in Covent Garden as a destination to grow and evolve. “Covent Garden certainly sets the benchmark for hospitality and leisure, bringing together world-class operators in an environment that simply...

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JD Sports to open upsized store at Meadowhall

20th July 2026

JD Sports is set to open an upsized store at Sheffield’s Meadowhall shopping centre. Opening at the end of July, the sportswear and fashion retailer’s new space will be almost triple the size of its previous space, spanning 29,225 sq ft. This larger space will enable the retailer to offer a wider range of clothing, footwear, and sportswear. It will also feature self-service tills, aimed at offering a faster and more convenient experience for customers. JD joins Meadowhall’s existing sportswear and fashion offering, which includes brands such as Sweaty Betty, Flannels, Stradivarius, and Pull&Bear. Darren Pearce, centre director at Meadowhall, said: “JD is already one of our most popular retailers, so to see the brand invest in a store of this scale is fantastic – it really demonstrates its confidence in Meadowhall as a destination. Almost tripling in size, the new store will give shoppers access to a wider range of brands and the very latest in sportswear and fashion, all under one roof. “It builds on what has been a brilliant year of new arrivals at the centre. From Pull&Bear and Stradivarius to now a huge new JD, we’re incredibly proud of the new brands and experiences we’re giving to...

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Urban Outfitters to join Sheffield’s Heart of the City regeneration project

20th July 2026

Urban Outfitters is set to join Sheffield City Council’s Heart of the City regeneration project, after signing a lease for a 8,500 sq ft unit on Pinstone Street. The fashion and homeware retailer will join the likes of Superdry, Fjallraven, Sostrene Grene, Birds & Blend, Weekend Offender, and Lucy & Yak at the development, which is being asset managed by RivingtonHark. Spanning 1.5 million sq ft, the Heart of the City project has looked to transform Sheffield city centre into a thriving concentration of shops, bars, cafes, restaurants, experiences, apartments, townhouses, and over 330,000 sq ft of occupied workspace. Sean McClean, director of regeneration and development at Sheffield City Council, said: “It is great to see the momentum surrounding our Heart of the City project shows no signs of slowing down, as we see another retailer secured to move into the development. This builds on recent openings to increase the retail offer in Heart of the City. Our aim was to transform and regenerate the area of the city centre, bringing people back into Sheffield and we’ve done just that. The city centre is a fantastic place for people to live, work and enjoy.” Laurence Jones, portfolio director at RivingtonHark,...

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Park Place Retail brings £23m trio of retail warehousing assets to market

17th July 2026

Park Place Retail has brought a portfolio of retail warehousing assets to the investment market with a combined asking price of £23,020,000, reflecting a net initial yield of 8.00%. The Eye Portfolio comprises St Nicholas Retail Park in King’s Lynn, a B&Q store in Llandudno, and Thorne Road Retail Park in Doncaster. The portfolio has a weighted average unexpired lease term of 5.7 years (5.1 years to break) and produces a total net passing rent of over £1.96m per annum. Key tenants within the portfolio – which account for 70% of the portfolio income – include Wickes, B&Q, Pets at Home, B&M, Iceland, and Costa. Although all three assets are being marketed as one portfolio, they are each available on an individual basis upon application.

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Greggs to upsize at Northumberland shopping centre

17th July 2026

Greggs is set to move into a significantly larger unit at Manor Walks Shopping Centre in Cramlington, Northumberland. The food-to-go operator will relocate from its current 1,961 sq ft store into a new 4,277 sq ft unit, formerly occupied by Select. Work at the new store is set to commence shortly, with the fit-out and refurbishment set to take place over the coming months. Greggs is anticipated to move into its new home later this year. The relocation forms part of Advance Northumberland’s ongoing investment in Manor Walks as it looks to ensure that the centre evolves in line with customer demand. Lee Farrier, head of commercial and workspace at Advance Northumberland, said: “Continued investment from Advance Northumberland is helping drive the ongoing enhancement of Manor Walks. Greggs is a valued occupier, and this relocation into a significantly larger unit reflects continued confidence in the centre. The enhanced store will create an improved experience for customers while strengthening the overall offer, and we look forward to seeing Greggs open in its new location later this year.”

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Gloucester Quays hails record start to 2026 as footfall increases by 10%

17th July 2026

Peel Retail & Leisure is celebrating a record breaking first half of the year at Gloucester Quays, during which the outlet centre recorded a 10% year-on-year increase in footfall. The scheme also saw a strong increase in food and beverage sales during the period, which were up by 11.9% year-on-year following a number of new arrivals, including Muse Brasserie, Banchina Italian, and Umami. Gloucester Quays also welcomed leisure operator Clip ‘n Climb in the spring, as Peel Retail & Leisure looks to deliver a full day-out experience for families. Retail performance at the scheme was also strong, with the home and gifts category leading the growth, securing a 70% year-on-year sales increase in the second quarter. Menswear also celebrated a strong quarter, growing by 28% year-on-year. Paul Carter, asset director at Peel Retail & Leisure, said: “Our strategy has always been to create a destination that offers desirable outlet shopping with a great mix of other uses, and these results demonstrate that approach is continuing to resonate with visitors. The addition of operators such as Muse Brasserie, Umami, Banchina, and Clip ‘n Climb has had a notable positive impact on our all-day appeal, creating even more reasons for people to...

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M&S opens largest standalone food store in Godalming

16th July 2026

M&S has opened its largest ever standalone food store at The Wharf Retail Park in Godalming, Surrey. The 22,000 sq ft store, located within a former Homebase, offers the retailer’s full range of food. Features include wider fresh produce areas, multi-temperature zones in herbs, organic and fruit, a larger in-store bakery, an enhanced cheese barge, a dedicated chicken shop, a sushi section, a rotisserie chicken counter, a new kitchen shop, and an upgraded beers, wines and spirits shop-in-shop. The opening forms part of M&S’s wider investment into new and renewed stores as it looks to modernise its estate, create larger foodhalls, and make the retailer more relevant for families doing more of their weekly shop. Alex Freudmann, managing director of M&S Food, said: “We’re doubling our food business with investment where family customers are asking for it most: bigger, better stores and more trusted value on the products families buy every week. “Godalming is our biggest ever standalone food store and an example of the kind of modern, full-range foodhall we’re investing in as we double the size of the business. It brings together the full M&S Food range, more space for the weekly shop and the latest store design so...

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White Stuff opens at Frasers Plus Designer Outlet Leeds

16th July 2026

British lifestyle retailer White Stuff has opened at Frasers Plus Designer Outlet Leeds (formerly Junction 32). The retailer has taken a 1,605 sq ft unit at the outlet shopping centre, offering a range of womenswear, menswear, accessories, and lifestyle products. The opening marks another milestone as the centre looks to establish itself as a leading regional premium shopping destination. Frasers Plus Designer Outlet Leeds is attracting increasing investment from fashion brands, and is set to welcome a number of new openings and store enhancements. Darren Winter, centre director at Frasers Plus Designer Outlet Leeds, said: “White Stuff is a strong endorsement of the direction we’re taking at Frasers Plus Designer Outlet Leeds. As we continue to invest in the destination, we’re seeing increasing confidence from brands that recognise the opportunity here. White Stuff is a natural fit within our growing fashion offer and another important step in delivering a compelling retail mix that benefits both our brand partners and our visitors.” Matthew Gibson, outlet cluster manager at White Stuff, added: “We’re delighted to be opening at Frasers Plus Designer Outlet Leeds this July. It’s an exciting time for the destination, and we’re looking forward to becoming part of its growing retail offer...

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