News
Next opens flagship store at Lakeside
11th July 2025Next has opened the doors to its new flagship store at Lakeside Shopping Centre in West Thurrock, Essex. At 83,000 sq ft, the store is one of the largest in the clothing retailer’s portfolio. The new store features six customer entrances, including a link to the newly re-opened entrance to Multi-Storey Car Park 2. It also includes all major Next departments, including womenswear, menswear, childrenswear, and home. There is also a FatFace concession – the first ever within a Next store – alongside dedicated spaces for Bath & Body Works and Costa Coffee. The store also introduces features aimed to enhance the customer experience, including expansive atriums and skylights, modern fitting rooms with increased privacy and space, and interiors promoting comfort.
Deals
Supercar brand secures flagship showroom space on London’s Park Lane
10th July 2025Alpine, the supercar brand from French car manufacturer Renault, has secured space for a flagship showroom on Park Lane in Central London. Alpine’s new unit at 56-59 Park Lane spans 6,500 sq ft with 75ft of road frontage, and was previously occupied by BMW. Park Lane is renowned as an area for luxury and performance car manufacturers to display their latest models. Alpine’s new showroom will display the full range of its vehicles and will host events aimed at both car enthusiasts and prospective buyers, with the aim of further elevating the brand’s profile in the UK market. Colliers’ Central London retail team secured the letting on behalf of the landlord. Emma Wills, director in Colliers’ London retail team, said: “We worked in conjunction with our dedicated UK Automotive team to comprehensively cover the market and are delighted to have secured such a prestigious motoring brand. The letting of 56-59 Park Lane to Alpine highlights the continued demand for flagship retail space within London’s luxury automotive sector. This location offers a unique combination of high visibility and proximity to complementary brands, making it an ideal base for Alpine’s expanding presence in the UK.”
Requirements
KFC has appetite for over 50 new UK stores in 2025
1st July 2025KFC is looking to secure over 50 new UK stores this year, as part of the restaurant chain’s plans to invest almost £1.5bn into its estate over the next five years. Earlier this year, the fried chicken specialist – which operates over 1,000 restaurants in the UK – said it will spend £466m on expanding its estate, with plans to open 500 more sites in the UK and Ireland over the next decade. The chain also said it would invest in upgrading over 200 of its existing restaurants. KFC has now released its acquisition requirements, with the chain considering freehold and leasehold units located at retail and leisure parks, development sites, high street retail units, travel hubs, shopping centres, and food courts. The operator is focusing on drive-through sites spanning 0.3 to 1.5 acres, as well as in-line units ranging in size between 1,200 sq ft and 2,500 sq ft. KFC is seeking sites across the entire UK and Ireland, and is also offering agents a finder’s fee of £20,000 for any suitable locations.
News
Space NK acquired by American beauty group
11th July 2025US beauty group Ulta Beauty has acquired Space NK from Manzanita Capital in a deal believed to be worth around £300m. Ulta Beauty said the cosmetics retailer will operate as a standalone subsidiary, led by its existing management team including CEO Andy Lightfoot. Kecia Steelman, president and chief executive officer of Ulta Beauty, said: “We are excited to enter the UK market via the Space NK banner. “International expansion is an integral part of our Ulta Beauty Unleashed plan, and the acquisition of Space NK offers a unique and strategically compelling opportunity to enter the growing UK market with a successful and growing brand. Along with our initiatives in Mexico and the Middle East, we are creating a broader platform for Ulta Beauty to unlock long-term, profitable growth. “Space NK’s management team, with the backing of Manzanita Capital, has done an excellent job building a differentiated beauty experience that inspires consumers through tailored product mixes. We look forward to working with the Space NK team to support their continued growth and success.” Andy Lightfoot, CEO of Space NK, added: “We have long respected Ulta Beauty as the leading specialty beauty retailer in the U.S. We are energised and excited by […]
