Posts from September 2026

Comment: Korean brands in the UK – from consumer trend to leasing opportunity

18th September 2026

The rise of Korean brands in the UK is one of the clearest examples of how quickly international consumer trends can translate into mainstream demand. It is no longer a novelty to see Korean brands across food and beverage, supermarkets, and beauty taking space in leading shopping centres and performing strongly.

Insights News

Harrow shopping centre fully let after pair of new signings

18th September 2026

St. George’s Shopping Centre in Harrow, Greater London, has reached full occupancy after the signings of Wingstop and Juice’n More. Chicken wing chain Wingstop is set to open a 2,150 sq ft restaurant on the scheme’s ground floor, adjacent to Cards Direct. The restaurant will accommodate 68 covers while offering dedicated click-and-collect and delivery collection points. Wingstop’s UK and Ireland operator, Lemon Pepper Holdings, recently opened its 100th UK restaurant and plans to open up to 30 further UK sites in 2026. The move follows Ryman’s relocation to a larger unit within St. George’s Shopping Centre, allowing the stationery and office supplies retailer to expand its range while freeing up its former St Anns Road unit for Wingstop’s new restaurant. The centre will also welcome fresh juice and smoothie operator Juice’n More later this month, adding a new health-focused offer to the food and beverage lineup. A number of existing tenants are also continuing to invest in their presence at the centre: Vue, Pizza Express, TK Maxx, Putt&Play, and Vision Express have all recently invested in new upgrades to their stores. Tikka Nation is now operating under new ownership, while McDonald’s and Haute Dolci are currently undertaking refurbishments of their...

Deals News

Waitrose Clapham Junction reopens following multimillion pound refurbishment

18th September 2026

Waitrose Clapham Junction in South London has reopened following a multimillion pound refurbishment. The store – located on St John’s Road – has undergone a nine-week refit to introduce a number of enhancements, including modernised departments and operational improvements. Key highlights of the refurbishment include a redesigned store layout, new refrigeration, a new customer coffee machine, and a new dry-aged beef cabinet. The opening marks a fortnight of investment in the area, following the reopening of the nearby Waitrose Balham earlier this month, which also underwent a store transformation. Martin Lockwood, branch manager at Waitrose Clapham Junction, said: “Our Clapham Junction branch has been at the heart of the bustling St John’s Road community for almost 20 years, and this refurbishment is all about giving our customers the inspiring experience they deserve. “From our new-look layout to our product displays, every improvement has been made with our customers in mind. “Hot on the heels of our sister store in Balham reopening just last week, this is a real demonstration of Waitrose’s commitment to our south London community. We’re thrilled to welcome everyone back with live music, giveaways, and plenty of delicious food to taste.” Gary Burt, executive BID manager for...

News

Hollister picks Gloucester Quays for first outlet store in the South West

18th September 2026

Hollister is set to open its first outlet store in the south west of England at Peel Retail & Leisure’s Gloucester Quays. The fashion and lifestyle retailer has signed for an 8,000 sq ft unit on High Orchard Street, adjacent to the main entrance into the centre’s outlet mall and opposite Søstrene Grene and AllSaints. Hollister – an Abercrombie & Fitch Co. brand – will offer a range of apparel, accessories, and fragrances designed to align with the growing young and student audiences at Gloucester Quays. The retailer will join the scheme’s existing lineup of fashion brands that includes Jack Wills, Levi’s, The North Face, and Adidas. Hollister follows in the footsteps of other brands that have chosen Gloucester Quays for their debuts: Berghaus opened its first standalone store in the region at the centre, which is also home to the only South West outlet location for AllSaints. Paul Carter, asset director at Peel Retail & Leisure, said: “Securing Hollister for its first South West outlet store is a fantastic milestone for Gloucester Quays. It demonstrates the strength of the destination, and our continued ability to attract sought-after and appealing brands, looking for the best locations and engaged audiences. Hollister...

Deals News

Superdry & Co signs 10-year lease at Derbion

17th September 2026

Superdry & Co is set to open at the Derbion shopping centre in Derby after signing a 10-year lease for a 3,576 sq ft unit. The new store will offer clothing and accessories for both men and women, as well as the British retailer’s flagship outerwear ranges. Shoppers will also be able to access the Bench streetwear label, which joined the Superdry & Co portfolio earlier this year. Superdry & Co becomes the latest fashion retailer to join Derbion, which has welcomed the likes of Office, FatFace, Crew Clothing, Victoria’s Secret, and Seasalt over recent months. Primark is also set to relocated into a newly-created 50,000 sq ft store in 2027. Beth McDonald, managing director at Derbion, said: “The addition of Superdry to our line-up aligns well with Derbion’s young shopper demographic which continues to grow thanks to the rising student and young professional population. “Superdry also continues the run of leading international brands coming to Derbion as we strengthen our position as the home of fashion in the East Midlands.” Julian Dunkerton, Superdry & Co founder and CEO, added: “Derby’s a great city, and Derbion is the perfect location to launch our new Superdry & Co store format. There’ll...

Deals News

The Entertainer opens at Manchester’s Trafford Centre

17th September 2026

The Entertainer has opened a new store at the Trafford Centre, bringing a full-range specialist toy offer to the Manchester scheme for the first time since 2018. The opening comes amid a period of accelerated expansion for The Entertainer, which has opened eight new stores over the past 12 months. The new store offers over 3,000 toys, games, and collectibles from leading global manufacturers, and is expected to rival its flagship at Bluewater for the top sales ranking across the retailer’s 150-plus stores. Following the departure of Hamleys in 2018, The Entertainer’s arrival means the Trafford Centre is home to a retailer with a full-range toy offer for the first time in eight years. The retailer joins a number of single brand and limited-range toy brands at the Trafford Centre, including LEGO, Pop Mart, MINISO, and Kenji. Kate Pearson, portfolio leasing director at Pradera, said: “The continued growth of the toy and children’s category reflects strong customer demand, making The Entertainer an important addition to our already exceptional retail offer. As Trafford Centre continues to evolve, the introduction of category-leading brands like The Entertainer will play an important role in enhancing the retail mix and ensuring the centre continues to...

News

Eurofund Group appoints new asset management director

17th September 2026

Pan-European investment, development, and real estate management group Eurofund Group has appointed Christina Lusk as an asset management director to support its UK retail portfolio expansion. She joins from NewRiver REIT, having previously held the position of asset management director at Ellandi LLP prior to its acquisition by NewRiver in 2024. In this role, Lusk was responsible for a portfolio of flagship destinations including Highcross in Leicester and The Broadway in Bradford. Prior to Ellandi, Lusk was at Hines, where she re-anchored The Centre, Livingston and led the redevelopment of the adjoining Almondvale West Retail Park. In her new role, Lusk will work across all of Eurofund Group’s UK retail asset management mandates and will be responsible for overseeing their strategic direction. Alberto Esguevillas, CEO of UK retail at Eurofund, said: “As we continue to expand our UK portfolio, we’re committed to building further strength in depth across our asset management platform. Christina’s pedigree, alongside her detailed understanding of one of our flagship assets, make her a valuable and welcome addition to the team”.

News

Multi-Realm secures Adidas opening at Resorts World Birmingham

17th September 2026

Multi-Realm has secured the signing of Adidas at Resorts World Birmingham. The sportswear retailer will open a 8,125 sq ft outlet store at the end of November. Spanning 538,000 sq ft, Resorts World Birmingham is located at the NEC, which now hosts regular fitness, sports, and running shows as well as the popular Hyrox concept. Louise Evans, asset management and leasing director at Multi-Realm, said: “Bringing in Adidas, for our client Genting, at Resorts World Birmingham is fantastic news. The new store will open in time for Christmas shopping and capitalise on the strong sports athleisure category performance that Resorts World Birmingham has become known for. Outlet shoppers have shown significant year-round appetite for the leading brands in this category and we have no doubt that Adidas will be incredibly popular at Resorts World Birmingham” Owned by the Genting Group and open since 2015, Resorts World Birmingham brings together nearly 40 outlet retailers and F&B operators, combining them with a hotel, spa, cinema, and a casino. Adidas will join the established Nike Factory Store at Resorts World, strengthening the scheme’s sportswear retail offer. Jason Kirsch, director of operations at Resorts World Birmingham, said: “Welcoming Adidas is a real statement of...

Deals News

Lone Star hands Aberdeen’s Union Square £175m price tag

16th September 2026

Lone Star Funds has appointed Knight Frank to market Aberdeen’s Union Square, with an asking price of £175m. Extending to 550,000 sq ft, Union Square is the dominant retail provision in Aberdeen and comprises a retail park alongside an enclosed retail and leisure mall. The scheme has recently seen the upsize of of M&S into a new 100,000 sq ft anchor unit on the retail park, with other recent upsizes at centre including Tk Maxx and Apple. New lettings at Union Square include Ikea, Mango, Schuh, Victoria’s Secret, Hobbs, The Entertainer, and Wing Stop. Other tenants include JD and Next in the retail park and Zara, H&M, and Cineworld in the mall. Charlie Barke, head of capital markets at Knight Frank, said: “Union Square is a huge success story and its recent lettings, substantial tenant investment, rental trajectory and strong trading platform are exactly what you want to see from a thriving retail asset with strong sustainability credentials. Combined with a superb economic backstory to this exceptional city, further boosted by recent support for opening-up the oil and gas fields at Jackdaw and Rosebank, the future here looks incredibly bright.”

News

SENG acquires 200,000 sq ft Hammersmith mixed-use property

16th September 2026

London-based real estate investment and development company SENG has acquired 26-28 Hammersmith Grove, a mixed-use property in West London, with the support of a £18.2m acquisition facility from specialist lender ASK Partners. The 2.3-acre site comprises approximately 200,000 sq ft of office, retail, and leisure accommodation across two wings and a link block, alongside dedicated car parking. The property – which has been acquired by SENG as part of its wider living sector strategy – is located approximately a two minutes’ walk from Hammersmith Broadway, offering connectivity via the Piccadilly, District, Circle and Hammersmith & City Underground lines. The acquisition marks a continuation the relationship between ASK and SENG, with ASK having previously provided acquisition finance to the business on other transactions in London. Elliot Dubey, partner at SENG said: “Hammersmith Grove is an exciting addition to our portfolio and aligns well with our wider living sector strategy. We see considerable long-term potential in the site and look forward to progressing our plans. We have worked with ASK on a number of transactions and value their commercial and flexible approach. Their understanding of our business and ability to move quickly provided the certainty we needed to complete this acquisition.” Ben Bellman, originator...

News

Vanilla signs for regional debut at Queensgate Peterborough

16th September 2026

Vanilla is set to join Queensgate Peterborough, opening its 11th store in the UK and its first in the region. The 3,622 sq ft store will house the fashion retailer’s Blue Vanilla and Pink Vanilla brands. The former offers a wide-appeal womenswear proposition whilst the latter is targeted towards 12 to 24-year-olds. Vanilla will take a unit on Queensgate’s upper mall, adding to the scheme’s existing fashion mix which includes H&M, Superdry, and River Island, as well as anchor stores Frasers and Sports Direct. Ed Ginn, director of investment management at Invesco Real Estate, said: “The signing of Vanilla at Queensgate comes at an exciting time for the centre, quickly following a trio of investments from quality, high street brands. Ongoing investment, along with the continued leasing momentum, has transformed the centre, meaning Queensgate is the go-to destination in the East of England. Vanilla’s trend-led and accessible ranges make a great addition, suiting both the fashion needs and wants of our visitors.” Michelle Burns, head of retail stores at Vanilla, added: “This has been a long time coming, with Queensgate being a key location for us. Its diverse customer base is a great fit for Vanilla, catering to both trend-aware...

Deals News

RO Group acquires roadside Starbucks in Norfolk

15th September 2026

RO Group has expanded its roadside portfolio with the freehold purchase of a Starbucks drive-through on the Attleborough Bypass in Norfolk. The restaurant, alongside 2.85 acres of adjoining development land, were acquired for a combined purchase price of £1,557,500. The 3,298 sq ft restaurant is let to Starbucks on a 20-year full repairing and insuring lease to October 2037, with 11.25 years unexpired and no breaks. The unit’s current passing rent is £80,808 per annum, subject to upward-only rent reviews in October 2027 and October 2032. The site sits on the A11 between Norwich and Thetford, one of the region’s key commuter and freight routes, with over 43,500 vehicles passing daily. It also shares the wider site with a 24-hour BP filling station and Marks & Spencer concession. The 2.85 acres of adjoining land comprises a 0.4-acre vacant surfaced car park and further vacant land and offers asset management opportunities. RO said it intends to explore options to lease the surfaced land for open storage, EV use, or further roadside development. Nick Cashmore, investment director at RO Real Estate, said: “We are very pleased to have added this Starbucks drive thru investment to our roadside portfolio. The property occupies a...

News

French fund acquires Scottish retail park units for £10.5m

15th September 2026

French investment management group Epsicap REIM has acquired three units at St Catherine’s Retail Park in Perth, Scotland on behalf of its Epsicap Nano SCPI fund for £10.5m. The fully-let units extend to 56,704 sq ft and are let to Wickes, Pets at Home, and B&M. Wickes has operated at the scheme for over 30 years while Pets at Home and B&M have unexpired lease terms of 5 years and 9.5 years, respectively. Epsicap REIM said the acquisition is in line with the fund’s strategy of selecting European real estate assets in established locations, occupied by high-quality tenants. Epsicap Nano’s portfolio now includes assets across France, Spain, Portugal, Scotland, England, Poland, and Italy. Assets located outside France now account for over half of the portfolio. Florian Le Quéré, partner and head of investments at Epsicap REIM : “With this acquisition, Epsicap Nano SCPI continues to strengthen its European presence. The UK’s share of the portfolio, currently below 25%, remains controlled and could continue to grow while staying around 30%. The property itself has the fundamentals we look for in the SCPI: an established location with good accessibility, leading tenants, and diversification through its configuration as two independent buildings currently divided...

News

K-Way to open third UK store at Covent Garden’s Seven Dials

15th September 2026

French outerwear brand K-Way is set to open its third store in the UK at Covent Garden’s Seven Dials neighbourhood. Opening at 19 Earlham Street in October, the retailer’s new 1,200 sq ft space will offer K-Way’s signature windbreaker jackets alongside a variety of jackets, fleeces, and apparel for men, women, and children. K-Way also partners with high-end fashion and streetwear brands, such as Fendi, Saint Laurent, Ami Paris, Kappa, and Universal Works. The new store will become the brand’s second within Shaftesbury Capital’s portfolio, joining K-Way on Carnaby Street in Soho. William Oliver, director of retail and restaurant leasing at Shaftesbury Capital, said: “The strength of our portfolio lies in the distinct character of each of our neighbourhoods and our long-term approach to curating a mix of brands that enhances these destinations. K-Way has already established a strong presence on Carnaby Street, and its decision to open a second location with us in Covent Garden reflects both the appeal of the neighbourhood and the confidence brands have in our stewardship of London’s West End.” Lorenzo Boglione, CEO of the BasicNet Group, added: “The opening of our third K-Way monobrand store in the UK marks another important milestone in our...

Deals News

Hollywood Bowl opens multimillion pound venue in Banbridge, Northern Ireland

14th September 2026

Hollywood Bowl has opened its second venue in Northern Ireland at The Boulevard in Banbridge after a multimillion pound investment. The venue, which joins Hollywood Bowl’s location near The O2 in Belfast, features 21 bowling lanes, alongside amusements and pool tables. The opening of Hollywood Bowl forms part of a wider £9m transformation of the western part of The Boulevard, which looks to create a ‘Food and Entertainment Quarter’ spanning 60,000 sq ft. Craig Turnbull, centre manager for Hollywood Bowl Banbridge, said: “We are delighted to officially open the doors to our new Hollywood Bowl centre at The Boulevard in Banbridge. This marks an exciting milestone in our growth across Northern Ireland, and we’re thrilled to bring the town a brand-new entertainment experience. The centre offers multiple lanes of ten-pin bowling, pool as well as a packed-full amusements arcade, creating enjoyable, memorable and fun experiences for all the family.” Chris Nelmes, retail director at The Boulevard, added: “Hollywood Bowl is a fantastic addition to The Boulevard and we are thrilled to see the lanes officially open following extensive development and investment. The Boulevard continues to go from strength to strength, cementing its position as not only a leading destination for shopping, but also dining and leisure, creating...

News

Planning application submitted for next phase of Battersea Power Station redevelopment

14th September 2026

A planning application has been submitted for the redevelopment of the remaining 16 acres of Battersea Power Station neighbourhood in London. The proposals outline the creation of 3.2 million sq ft of residential, commercial, and leisure space, nearly doubling the scale of development at the mixed-use neighbourhood. Urban designer Studio Egret West has refreshed the original 15-year-old masterplan, designed by Rafael Viñoly, to respond to changes in urban living, working, and how people spend their leisure time. If approved, the new plans will see the creation of commercial spaces alongside new homes and cultural and leisure venues. Tan Sri Shahril Ridza Ridzuan, chair of Battersea Project Holding Company, said: “The submission of our revised masterplan for the remaining 16-acres of Battersea Power Station is a critical step forward in realising the vision for this vibrant mixed-use neighbourhood. Projects of this scale and ambition take decades to bring to fruition, during which time cities naturally evolve and advance, and it’s our duty as custodians of a major undeveloped part of the city to take account of these adjustments. “When we embarked on this project in 2012, we understood the scale of the challenge ahead, from restoring a derelict Grade II listed...

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Planning permission awarded for £2bn expansion of York City Centre

11th September 2026

The first phase of development at urban regeneration scheme York Central has received planning approval from the City of York Council. McLaren Development, in partnership with Arlington Real Estate, will now look to deliver over 1,000 new homes alongside a commercial district, a hotel, and a new station entrance at the site. New public squares, a public park, and a network of courtyards, cycle ways, and footpaths will also be created to connect the new 110-acre quarter to the rest of the city. Construction will start on site next year following site investigation works, which will begin imminently. In addition to the previously approved Museum Square, and 134,000 sq ft Government Property Agency hub, the new approval provides for 67,447 sq ft of retail and leisure space, 1,014 mixed-tenure homes, a 213-bedroom hotel, new parkland and public realm, and a 99,190 sq ft innovation hub. The first buildings are expected to be completed and available for occupation by early 2029, with all of phase one estimated to be complete during 2030. David Skaith, mayor of York and North Yorkshire, said: “York Central is going to transform the city, delivering thousands of much-needed new homes, including affordable housing, and creating thousands of high-quality jobs. “That’s why...

News

Ardent acquires pair of UK shopping centre assets

11th September 2026

The Ardent Companies has acquired two shopping centre assets from a client of Delancey in an all-equity purchase. The US-based real estate investment and asset management firm completed the acquisition of Royal Priors Shopping Centre in Leamington Spa earlier in September and has exchanged contracts with the same seller to acquire the Howard Centre in Welwyn Garden City. Located in the centre of Leamington Spa, Royal Priors provides 172,000 sq ft of retail and dining space, with notable occupiers including Søstrene Grene, Superdry, Hobbs, Pandora, Sports Direct, Waterstones, Mountain Warehouse, and Giggling Squid. The Howard Centre, located adjacent to Welwyn Garden City train station, offers 180,000 sq ft of retail, dining, and leisure space, with brands at the scheme including H&M, FatFace, Hotel Chocolat, Nando’s, The Gym Group, Boots, and Starbucks. These schemes join Ardent’s existing portfolio of UK retail assets that includes Touchwood in Solihull and The Royal Exchange in the City of London. Matt Shulman, CEO and managing partner of The Ardent Companies, said: “We have long-term conviction in the potential of UK real estate. Since entering the UK in 2021, we have built a diversified portfolio across retail, industrial, and self-storage, and the work we have done at...

News

Supermarket Income REIT shops for £104m of new assets

11th September 2026

Supermarket Income REIT has acquired six grocery assets including a fully-let retail park for a total of £104m. Following the real estate investment trust’s exchange of contracts to acquire a portfolio of three supermarkets for £118m, the group said the proceeds from its £100m equity raise in July have now been fully deployed, at an average net initial yield of 6.6% and a weighted average unexpired lease term of 10 years. Included in the latest batch of acquisitions is a 74,000 sq ft Sainsbury’s supermarket in Macclesfield, which features a click-and-collect delivery service and home delivery vans. The asset has a triple-net unexpired lease term of 13 years and is subject to annual RPI-linked rent reviews with a 4% cap and 2% floor. The store produces a rental income of £37 per sq ft. In addition, the group has acquired an 80,000 sq ft Morrisons supermarket in Leeds, which also offers a click-and-collect delivery service. The store has a triple-net unexpired lease term of 13 years and produces a rental income of £21 per sq ft. The asset is subject to five-yearly RPI-linked rent reviews with a 4% cap and 0% floor. Supermarket Income REIT has also acquired an M&S-anchored retail park...

News

SpudBros Express to open first-ever outlet location at Frasers Plus Designer Outlet Swindon

10th September 2026

SpudBros Express is set to open its first-ever location within an outlet centre at Frasers Plus Designer Outlet Swindon. The fast-growing food brand – founded by brothers Jacob and Harley Nelson – will open the restaurant in partnership with brand platform Taster and franchise Ketch & Co. With 17 locations across the UK, SpudBros Express has rapidly grown from an independent family business into a nationally recognised brand. Nicky Lovell, head of outlets and retail business development at Global Mutual, said: “Alongside recognised national brands, we’re focused on identifying ambitious businesses that bring something new to the destination and reflect the way customer expectations continue to evolve. “SpudBros Express has built an impressive following in a remarkably short period of time. Choosing Frasers Plus Designer Outlet Swindon for its first outlet location is a strong endorsement of the destination and demonstrates our ability to attract exciting brands at key stages of their growth.” Jacob Nelson, co-founder of SpudBros, added: “Opening our first outlet location at Frasers Plus Designer Outlet Swindon is an exciting milestone for the business as we continue to expand into new locations across the UK. The destination’s strong regional catchment, established retail offer and reputation as one of the...

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