Shaftesbury Capital welcomes flurry of Covent Garden signings

Shaftesbury Capital has signed 25 retail, hospitality, and leisure brands at London’s Covent Garden over the last six months.

The group said the signings demonstrate a vote of confidence in the long-term appeal and prospects of Covent Garden and the wider West End.

Included in the signings are 13 new retail brands, including running shoes and apparel brand HOKA and international menswear brand Balibaris, which have opened their first stores in Europe and the West End respectively.

In addition, outdoor brand Arc’teryx is set to open a significantly upsized store on King Street, following a successful run at its Long Acre store. Also joining King Street is luxury perfume brand The House of Creed, which will make its Covent Garden debut in November.

Also joining the destination is five watch and jewellery boutiques, with OMEGA, Messika, Hublot, and Girard-Perregaux opening in the Royal Opera House Arcade, whilst Tissot will open on James Street. Set to open before Christmas, the signings follow the recent 50% upsizing of watch and jewellery retailer Bucherer 1888 at its flagship Covent Garden store.

French womenswear brand Sessùn, clothing brand Gramicci, jewellery brand Mejuri, and leather goods retailer Cambridge Satchel Co. have also signed at the destination.

Shaftesbury Capital has welcomed the signings of nine new food and beverage brands. Highlights include British independent restaurant The Breakfast Club, internationally-inspired restaurants Fatto a Mano, Colonel Saab, Ikkan Sushi and Bone Daddies, and chef Phil Howard’s pasta bar Notto.

The operators join coffeehouse WatchHouse, Latin restaurant Crudo Cevicheria, and Gaucho, which all opened in Covent Garden in the last quarter.

Covent Garden will also welcome Swiss chocolatier Läderach, independent confectionary brand Lakrids by Bülow, and a brand-new concept called Barnaby’s.

Michelle McGrath, executive director of Shaftesbury Capital, said: “At Covent Garden, we have always set out to create a multi-dimensional, experiential mixed-use district, attracting the very best occupiers across all uses. During our ownership, we have introduced over 250 new shopping and dining concepts to Covent Garden and continue to see excellent demand for our unique spaces, from brands aligned with our strategy to attract world-class global, British and independent brands.”