Retail Property Deals

Everyman opens at Stratford Cross alongside 5,000 sq ft of F&B

19th December 2024

Cinema chain Everyman has opened as the anchor tenant at the Turing Building at Stratford Cross in East London, alongside two independent food and beverage brands. The new 10,900 sq ft venue features 253 sofas and armchairs across three screens, hosting movies, theatre screenings, and events. The cinema also includes an outdoor terrace, a lounge serving food, and a full cocktail bar. The opening coincides with the completion of the Turing Building at Stratford Cross, which also provides 350,000 sq ft of Grade A office space. Joining Everyman is European small plates restaurant and wine bar, Templar, which has opened a 1,225 sq ft space near the London Stadium and the East Bank Cultural Quarter. Meanwhile on the nearby Arber Way, Greek-inspired concept Hera has opened a 3,900 sq ft restaurant, featuring a heated outdoor terrace and a bar area with seating. Guy Thomas, head of leasing at the landlord Lendlease, said: “The opening of Everyman, along with the recent additions of Templar and Hera, comes at an exciting time for Stratford Cross as the much anticipated Turing building is now complete. These new openings bring a fresh energy to the area, blending a well-known name with unique local dining spots. […]

Turkish womenswear brand picks London Designer Outlet for UK debut

19th December 2024

Turkish womenswear retailer Abaci is set to open its first physical UK store at London Designer Outlet (LDO) in Wembley Park. The retailer – which specialises in modest fashion – has agreed a two-year lease for a 1,418 sq ft unit at the outlet shopping centre. Abaci was founded in 1981 and, since 2017, has operated in the UK as an online business with occasional pop-ups at John Lewis in Westfield White City. The store at LDO will stock a range of hijabs, abayas, tunics, coats, and evening dresses. The arrival of Abaci at LDO continues strong leasing momentum seen at the centre in 2024. The scheme has secured 11 new lettings and relocations throughout the year, whilst 18 brands have renewed their leases. Matt Slade, retail director at Quintain, said: “It is great to see Abaci select LDO for its first UK store as they are such a recognised name in the modest fashion market – a sector which is growing from strength to strength in the UK. Abaci’s move to LDO also follows the trend of more traditionally online brands beginning to take their first steps into the physical retail environment as they look to further showcase their offering....

Bolton shopping centre welcomes flurry of new openings

17th December 2024

Market Place in Bolton has welcomed the opening of five new stores within the last six months, totalling over 33,000 sq ft of space. Leading the new arrivals is Primark, which relocated from its existing store at Crompton Place Shopping Centre to a 26,300 sq ft unit within the former Debenhams store. The new store – which forms part of Primark’s £100m investment into its UK store estate – features a modern layout with self-checkout facilities and LED lighting. Another addition to Market Place is Muffin Break, which opened earlier this month. The Australian bakery chain invested over £300,000 into its 1,285 sq ft café, its 69th outlet in the UK. Located near the Primark store, Muffin Break’s menu includes the likes of coffee and baked goods. Also joining the Bolton scheme is Deichmann, which opened its 5,300 sq ft store in the summer following a £550,000 investment. Located on Market Place’s lower level, the footwear retailer’s store features brands such as Adidas, Nike, and Skechers. Meanwhile, books and hobbies retailer The Works has also relocated from Crompton Place to Market Place. Taking a 2,195 sq ft store at the entrance of the scheme, the move allows the brand to offer […]

Manchester Arndale welcomes Joe & The Juice for city centre return

17th December 2024

Joe & The Juice is set to make its return to the centre of Manchester after agreeing a lease for a new space at Manchester Arndale. The juice and coffee bar has signed a 10-year lease for the 2,685 sq ft former EE unit on Cross Street. The opening will see Joe & The Juice reopen in central Manchester following the closure of its previous store in Debenhams. Founded in 2002, the Danish business has now established a chain of over 300 bars and coffee shops across 64 locations globally. The cafés offer a mixture of juice drinks and coffees alongside sandwiches and snacks. The arrival of Joe & The Juice at Manchester Arndale adds to the scheme’s existing line-up of cafés and restaurants, including recent arrivals Michael’s Coffee House, HOP Vietnamese, Sides, Creams, Black Sheep Coffee, and Lazy Sunday. Scott Linard, portfolio manager for M&G Real Estate, said: “It is great to welcome Joe & The Juice back to Manchester city centre. They have built a brand which has become synonymous with meeting spots across UK towns and cities, so we expect them to thrive at Manchester Arndale thanks to our close proximity to city centre businesses and students […]

Charlotte Tilbury to upsize Covent Garden flagship

16th December 2024

Charlotte Tilbury is set to open a significantly-upsized store within London’s Covent Garden, following the brand’s success in the area. The makeup, fragrance, and skincare brand will open a 4,300 sq ft store on the corner of the Royal Opera House and James Street early next year. The new store will be triple the size of Charlotte Tilbury’s footprint at its original store on James Street, where it made its bricks-and-mortar debut in 2015. Charlotte Tilbury’s new flagship store adds to the destination’s existing beauty and wellness offer, joining brands such as Aēsop, Chanel, Creed, Diptyque, Elemis, Glossier, Guerlain, Jo Malone London, MAC, Miller Harris, NARS, Penhaligon’s, Space NK, and TOM FORD. Michelle McGrath, executive director of Shaftesbury Capital, said: “Charlotte Tilbury has been a cornerstone of Covent Garden’s beauty offer since it opened in 2015, so we are delighted to announce that it will be strengthening its presence further with this latest upsize and relocation. The continual investment demonstrated from the beauty powerhouse is evidence of the strong collaborative approach between Shaftesbury Capital and our partners, and cements Covent Garden’s position as a leader in the UK beauty and wellness landscape.”

EE opens flagship experience store at Norwich’s Chantry Place

16th December 2024

Real estate asset and investment manager Catella APAM has completed a 10-year lease agreement with EE to bring the telecommunications brand to Chantry Place in Norwich. Taking a 5,800 sq ft space, EE has opened an ‘experience store’, which features different zones dedicated to different technologies. Customers at the new store are able to explore products such as broadband, smart TVs, speakers, and gaming consoles. Nathan Reidy, associate director at Catella APAM, said: “The opening of EE’s experience store at Chantry Place demonstrates our commitment to creating a dynamic retail environment that continues to cater to the evolving needs of our customers. This addition reinforces the reputation of Chantry Place as a key destination for leading brands and innovative experiences. We are confident that EE’s expanded offer will resonate with visitors and further elevate the centre’s appeal.” Catella APAM acted on behalf of Greater Manchester Pension Fund.

Bill’s leads trio of F&B openings at Centre:mk

16th December 2024

Bill’s has opened at Centre:mk, leading a trio of new F&B brands arriving at the Milton Keynes shopping destination. The operator has opened a 3,000 sq ft eatery on the corner of Queens Court and Silbury Arcade. The restaurant is Bill’s first new location in six years, with the Richard Caring-backed all-day dining concept set to expand into 2025 and beyond. Also joining Centre:mk is Cornish Bakery, which has made its regional debut after opening a 2,650 sq ft café on Deer Walk. The 82-cover venue becomes the operator’s largest to open this year. Finally, Starbucks has opened its upsized 2,800 sq ft space on Queens Court, as the coffee shop operator recommits to the destination. The three openings are part of a wider wave of investments this year, with 20 brands opening or reinvesting in Centre:mk in 2024, for a total of almost 150,000 sq ft of space. Kevin Duffy, Centre:mk’s centre director, said: “The opening of Bill’s, Cornish Bakery and Starbucks relocation draws 2024 to a brilliant close. Not only does it strengthen the dynamic lineup of dining options we have curated at Centre:mk, but the commitment demonstrated from these leading national and multinational operators further cements our […]

Sports Direct opens flagship store at Westfield White City

16th December 2024

Frasers Group has opened the doors to a new flagship store for Sports Direct at Westfield White City in Shepherd’s Bush. Joining the brand’s first flagship store on London’s Oxford Street, the 29,000 sq ft location spans two floors and features a range of fitness and performance wear, equipment, and footwear from brands such as Nike, Adidas, Under Armour, Puma, and ASICS. Customers will be able discover Sports Direct’s Running Concept, its newly-introduced Outdoor Concept, and dedicated sections set out for various sports categories. Alongside the retailer’s core offering, the store also features brand’s from other Frasers Group-owned companies such as GAME and USC. Michael Murray, chief executive officer at Frasers Group, said: “As a leading global retailer in sports, Sports Direct is committed to providing customers with unparalleled access to the best brands and the best sports retail experience. We understand the importance of evolving to meet consumer needs – especially in a crucial market like London. With this opening, we’re building on the successful formula from our Oxford Street store, bringing another unmatched destination for sports enthusiasts.” Frasers Group secured two major leases in London’s Westfield Shopping Centres earlier this year. With the first store now open, Sports […]

Gloucester Quays completes 11 renewals in 2024

13th December 2024

Peel Retail & Leisure has completed 11 renewals with existing tenants at Gloucester Quays in 2024. The renewals form part of a total of 20 deals at the outlet shopping centre, covering over 44,000 sq ft of space. Amongst the brands to renew are kitchenware brand Le Creuset, which invested in a new fit-out, and lifestyle and athletic footwear brand Skechers, which increased its footprint at the scheme by 50%. Other leading names including Clarks, White Stuff, Jack Wills, Suit Direct, and Raging Bull have also recommitted to Gloucester Quays, as have Denby, The Gift Company, Baggage World, and Tresspass. The outlet shopping scheme has also welcomed a number of new brands in 2024 – the year in which it celebrated its 15th anniversary – such as Reiss, Moss, and Berghaus, which opened its second standalone UK store. The centre has also bolstered its food and beverage line-up with brands such as Pret A Manger, Subway, Krispy Kreme, and Bakers & Baristas. Paul Carter, asset director at Peel Retail & Leisure, said: “11 lease renewals is a sign of the strength of Gloucester Quays’ offer, and the ability to retain brands because they succeed here. Complemented by a host of new […]

Liverpool ONE’s South John Street welcomes quartet of signings

12th December 2024

Grosvenor has welcomed a quartet of retail signings at South John Street in Liverpool ONE. Lifestyle brand MINISO has agreed to take a 3,000 sq ft site to make its Liverpool debut. The store will stock the brand’s selection of ‘blind boxes’, collectables, plushies, beauty products, and snacks. Also joining South John Street is personal care brand Bath & Body Works, which is also making its debut in the city. Opening next year in a 3,000 sq ft unit, the store will offer a range of personal care products, candles, and seasonal collections. Meanwhile, Boux Avenue is making its return to South John Street from its temporary home on Liverpool ONE’s Peter’s Lane. The 3,000 sq ft space will showcase the brand’s full range of lingerie, nightwear, loungewear, sportswear, dresses, and swimwear. These three brands will be opening in adjacent units in the store formerly occupied by Victoria’s Secret, which has relocated to a new 4,000 sq ft location, also on South John Street. The new store is one of the retailer’s first in its new concept, and will deliver a range of lingerie, sleepwear, swimwear and athleisure, alongside a collection of fragrances and body care. Rob Deacon, director of...

Burger brand shakes up F&B offer at Bullring & Grand Central

12th December 2024

Shake Shack has opened its first restaurant in the Midlands at Hammerson’s Bullring & Grand Central in Birmingham. The New York-based burger restaurant’s 2,866 sq ft space in Grand Central offers the brand’s core menu, featuring the likes of breakfast burgers, its signature ShackBurger, crinkle-cut fries, hot dogs, ShackMeister ale, and milkshakes. Shake Shack becomes the latest in a series of international food and beverage and leisure brands to open in Bullring & Grand Central, including Lane 7, Sandbox, Toca Social, Slim Chickens, Mrs Chew’s Chinese Kitchen, Mowgli and Five Guys. Katy Letch, head of leasing at Hammerson, said: “Shake Shack is the latest international brand to make its debut at Bullring & Grand Central, further adding to the F&B choice available in its unique style. Combined with our existing line-up of leading names in the hospitality sector, together with our comprehensive leisure offer, Bullring & Grand Central is the number one hub for dining and socialising in Birmingham.” Colin O’Kane, managing director at Diverse Dining, operator of the Shake Shack brand in the UK, added: “With locations across London and the South East, expanding the Shake Shack portfolio to new regions in the UK is a key part of our strategic […]

The Portman Estate introduces trio of independents to Seymour Place

11th December 2024

The Portman Estate has announced the arrival of three independent retail and hospitality brands to Seymour Place within its Portman Marylebone neighbourhood in London’s West End. In November, Thai-British restaurant concept AngloThai opened the doors to its 2,500 sq ft space at 22-24 Seymour Place. The 50-cover restaurant is the first permanent launch for the operator, which was founded by husband-and-wife duo John and Desiree Chantarasak. The opening has been completed in partnership with restaurant group MJMK, which also previously introduced KOL to the estate at 9 Seymour Street. Also opening in November was independent bookshop Veranda Books. The 900 sq ft space specialises in international literature and global perspectives. Finally, contemporary nail bar, Show Me Your Nails, opened at 20 Seymour Place this week. Taking a 1,500 sq ft unit, the salon offers a range of nail and beauty products. AngloThai, Veranda Books, and Show Me Your Nails join a range of independent retail and hospitality brands on Seymour Place, including The Italian Greyhound, Lurra, Mandy Zhang Art, ULI, and WatchHouse Cofee, which was recently named Europe’s best coffee shop chain at the 2024 European Coffee & Hospitality Awards. Tom Knight, portfolio director at The Portman Estate, said: “This next...