Retail Property Deals

Inditex continues Trafford Centre investment with Stradivarius upsize

26th February 2026

Stradivarius is set to upsize its store at Trafford Centre, marking the latest phase of investment from fashion group Inditex into the Manchester scheme. Opening this spring, the womenswear retailer’s new 13,500 sq ft store will be located in Lower Peel Avenue and will offer a larger collection of clothing and accessories. The announcement comes after a year of growth at the centre, where over 50% of the scheme’s 2025 sales growth originated from the fashion, sportswear, and footwear categories. Stradivarius’ upsize follows a number of investments at Trafford Centre from its parent company Inditex Group. In 2025, the centre welcomed Bershka, as well as relocations from Zara and Pull&Bear, which more than doubled its footprint. Kate Pearson, director of portfolio leasing at Pradera Lateral, asset manager at Trafford Centre, said: “The newly upsized Stradivarius completes Inditex’s significant investment in Trafford Centre and provides shoppers with its full comprehensive fashion offer.  This announcement only strengthens our market-leading fashion mix and reflects sustained demand from leading global retailers to invest in and improve their offering at our destination.”

LEGO leads 26,000 sq ft of upsizes, refits, and renewals at Sheffield’s Meadowhall

25th February 2026

The LEGO Group is set to relocate its store at Meadowhall, leading 26,000 sq ft of new upsizes, refits, and renewals at the Sheffield scheme. After more than 15 years at the centre, the toy retailer is taking a larger unit on the Lower Level High Street. The new 4,651 sq ft space is set to open this spring and will aim to act as a hub for the building community, hosting product launches, interactive experiences, and special events. This comes as Meadowhall this month welcomed refitted and relaunched stores for Tommy Hilfiger, MINISO, and Lakeland. Spanning 2,462 sq ft, Tommy Hilfiger’s new space has been redesigned with an updated interior, stocking the brand’s full menswear collection and introducing womenswear to the store. MINISO’s 1,759 sq ft location on the shopping centre’s Lower Level High Street has recently opened, taking the brand from a pop-up to a permanent lease. The store has reopened with a new shop front and interior and a broader range of pop culture and lifestyle products. Lakeland has refreshed its 4,052 sq ft space on Meadowhall’s Upper Level The Arcade, launching with a modernised fit-out and complete collection of kitchenware. Due to launch at the end of the month...

London’s The Whiteley welcomes seven new retailers

24th February 2026

The Whiteley in West London, a landmark redevelopment of a former department store, has welcomed seven new retailers. Third Space, Everyman, Nela, 3812 Gallery, Duck & Dry, Adventures in Furniture, and Guillam Coffee House have all now opened their doors at the £3bn development. Each of the new arrivals are positioned across the building’s ground and lower-ground floors, with frontages on Queensway, Redan Place and Porchester Gardens. A total of 19 brands are planned for the 1.1 million sq. ft site, with these new arrivals set to be followed by several further openings throughout 2026. The new brands include the Mayfairbased café LALÏ, indoor golf destination 14 Clubs, premium pharmacy Whiteley Health, Japanese mochi bar Yuum, the South Kensington-based salon Oblique Beauty, and luxury food store Willy’s. The commercial offering at The Whiteley is now 89% let, with additional retailers set to beannounced soon. The restoration of the former department store has been led by development manager Valouran and joint investment partners MARK and C C Land. Alex Michelin, founder and CEO of Valouran, said: “The arrival of these brands marks the beginning of an exciting and defining next chapter for The Whiteley. Our ambition has always been to reimagine […]

Sephora to open first West End store on Carnaby Street

24th February 2026

Sephora is set to open its first store in London’s West End on Carnaby Street. The beauty retailer’s new space will be located at 5-7 Carnaby Street and span over 4,400 sq ft with 2,600 sq ft of trading space. The store will also feature the brand’s new ’boutique’ format, which has more of a focus on curated edits, in-store advice, and speed of service. Through partnering with Sephora for this West End debut, Shaftesbury Capital has looked to further evolve the beauty and cosmetics offer on Carnaby Street. Sephora will sit alongside K-beauty brand PURESEOUL, Charlotte Tilbury’s ‘Beauty Wonderland’, and the likes of Grown Alchemist, Pixi, Sculpted by Aimee, and Aesop within Soho’s surrounding streets. William Oliver, director of retail and restaurant leasing at Shaftesbury Capital, said: “Sephora is without a doubt one of the most coveted brands in the UK right now. Its emphasis on curation, bringing together products and experiences that can’t be found elsewhere, means Sephora UK will differentiate itself from the beauty offer in Soho, complementing the existing retail mix and aligning with Carnaby Street’s appeal to such a broad consumer base.  That we’ve been able to secure this first site in the West End […]

Pan-Asian restaurant secures two new sites

23rd February 2026

Pan-Asian restaurant concept Umami has secured two new sites at Queensgate Centre in Peterborough and Captain Cook Square in Middlesbrough. The operator, which is part of the COSMO group, has signed a 15-year leases for the units, which span 7,064 sq ft and 9,025 sq ft in Peterborough and Middlesbrough respectively. Since launching in 2003, COSMO has grown to 23 total sites across the UK and Ireland. The operator is working with Savills to secure leasehold and freehold opportunities ranging between 8,500 sq ft and 12,000 sq ft across prime retail and leisure locations, and recently announced a further three signings in December for the group in Leicester, Colchester, and Newcastle. Carlene Hughes, head of UK, restaurants and leisure at Savills, said: “We are delighted to be advising COSMO Group on its ambitious expansion plans. The group’s dynamic portfolio – including COSMO, Umami, and Firebird – reflects the evolving tastes of UK diners and the growing demand for experiential dining. Securing Umami at Queensgate is a key milestone in strengthening the group’s presence in prime markets across the UK.” “Umami’s arrival at Captain Cook Square reflects the strength of the brand and its ability to deliver high-quality, experiential dining that resonates with […]

Stradivarius to open first store in Kent at Bluewater

20th February 2026

Stradivarius is set to open its first store in Kent at Landsec’s Bluewater shopping centre later this month. The women’s fashion brand – which is part of the Inditex group – will take a 8,488 sq ft unit on the Lower Thames Walk, adjacent to M&S. Stradivarius joined Inditex – the owner of fashion retailers Zara, PULL&BEAR, and Bershka – 1999 and is offers womenswear, footwear, and accessories. The brand joins over 280 stores and food and beverage operators at Bluewater, as well as a 17-screen Showcase Cinema de Lux, Gravity Trampoline Park, and Dinotropolis Giant Soft Play. This signing comes as Bluewater prepares to welcome the arrival of Crew Clothing, which is set to open a 1,050 sq ft store at the scheme. James Waugh, centre director at Bluewater, said: “Stradivarius has been our most requested brand for some time now, and our original announcement sharing that they’d be joining our retail line-up was met with huge excitement. “We’re delighted to be able to give fans of the brand a concrete opening date, so that they can start planning their shopping trips. “This marks the first time our guests will be able to shop their collections in the region, and we...

Australian womenswear retailer to make UK debut on Carnaby Street

20th February 2026

Australian womenswear retailer Kookaï is to make it’s UK debut, opening its first permanent location in the country on London’s Carnaby Street. Spanning 1,800 sq ft, Kookaï’s new space at 37 Carnaby Street will feature its latest store concept and offer a range of womenswear designed at the brand’s Melbourne studio. The opening will build on the brand’s success across Australia, New Zealand, and Europe, which has seen it grow to over 57 boutiques in recent years. Kookaï joins a number of contemporary fashion labels that have selected Soho as an entry point into the UK retail market over the past six months, including ALOHAS and Edikted. The signing also coincides with a period of significant investment across the destination, as retailers including Nobody’s Child, New Era, and IZIPIZI have refit their stores. William Oliver, director of retail and restaurant leasing at landlord Shaftesbury Capital, said: “This fresh version of Kookaï coming to Carnaby Street for a UK debut, closely following in Edikted’s footsteps, reinforces Soho’s position as the sought after launch destination for brands. Its vibrant mix and visitor audience draws in both emerging and established retailers, alongside the long-standing success that has become synonymous with the neighbourhood.” Bianca […]

Oseyo to open largest UK store to date at Newcastle’s Eldon Square

19th February 2026

Oseyo is set to open its largest store to date in the UK at Eldon Square in Newcastle. The Asian supermarket retailer will open a 20,000 sq ft store at the destination, its first location in the North East. The space will offer a range of Korean and Asian foods, toys, stationery, homewares, and electronics. The store will also feature a range of trend-driven experiences, including photobooths, claw machines, and a dedicated Korean beauty section. The Eldon Square opening marks the next step in Oseyo’s expansion into the North of England, with the new store joining existing locations in Manchester and Sheffield. Bernice Nesham, director of asset management at Pradera Lateral, said: “Starting in 2015 with a small shop on Tottenham Court Road, Oseyo has been reinventing the Asian supermarket industry in the UK over the last decade. We are thrilled to have such an innovative and disruptive brand select Eldon Square as both its largest store and its first in the North East. From new brands like Oseyo to the opening of our new multi-use leisure offering Freight Island, Eldon Square is charging into the future of bringing the very best experiences to our visitors.” Isaac Kweon, operations director at Oseyo, added: “Following the success of our […]

Hollister fashions Lakeside opening

18th February 2026

Lakeside Shopping Centre in Essex is set to expand its fashion offering with the opening of Hollister. Within its new space, the fashion retailer – which is a brand of Abercrombie & Fitch – will offer a range of apparel, accessories, and fragrances. This signing comes as Lakeside looks to redefine the retail experience for its guests through a multi-million-pound investment which is transforming the centre’s interiors and external spaces. Hollister joins a variety of retailers at Lakeside, NEXT, JD Sports, and an enhanced M&S. Rob Jewell, managing director of asset management at Pradera Lateral, said: “From premium names like The White Company, who are set to open at the centre in 2026, to ten lakefront restaurants and leading entertainment operators, Lakeside is redefining what guests can expect from a modern retail destination. The arrival of Hollister is a key part of that transformation, further strengthening our fashion line-up and appeal to a broader audience.”  Lakeside Shopping Centre is owned by SGS UK Retail and asset managed by Pradera Lateral. The leasing agents for this deal were Smith Young and LM Real Estate. 

Castore and NEXT recommit to Livingston Designer Outlet with refitted stores

18th February 2026

Castore and NEXT have recommitted to Livingston Designer Outlet in Scotland, with both retailers agreeing to store refits. The expanded and refitted Castore store spans 3,000 sq ft and offers fans and athletes the opportunity to shop for the fan and training collections at discounted prices.   Meanwhile, the relocated and refitted NEXT store now occupies a prominent location in the North Mall as a part of a strategic repositioning project at the destination. This initiative focuses on putting the right brands in the right spaces to maximise commercial impact. Already this year, Livingston Designer Outlet has confirmed the incoming arrival of immersive leisure experience Flip Out, F&B brands Tikka Nation and Sides, and independent deli Hamilton & Brown. Nicky Lovell, head of outlets and retail business development at Global Mutual, said: “This significant investment into their stores from two of our key tenants is testament to the success of Livingston Designer Outlet in supporting the commercial ambitions of our retailers. Outlet shopping is proving to be a key business driver for our brand partners and the commitment of Castore and NEXT to creating leading store environments at Livingston is the perfect start to what promises to be a hugely successful 2026 for the destination.”   

Knoops brews up regional debut at Centre:mk

17th February 2026

Knoops is set to join the F&B lineup at Centre:mk, marking a regional debut for the chocolate drinks specialist at the Milton Keynes shopping centre. The operator will take a 1,720 sq ft unit on Sunset Walk located adjacent to the City Square and opposite H Beauty. The space will offer a selection of hot and cold chocolate drinks, offering full customisation across chocolate percentage, milk type, and flavours. Knoops will join Centre:mk’s existing lineup of F&B operators that includes Hotel Chocolat and Cornish Bakery. Kevin Duffy, centre director at Centre:mk, said: “Knoops will bring an exciting new dimension to centre:mk’s F&B and retail mix through its experience-focused concept. Coinciding with standout trading results from our existing F&B operators, Knoops’ signing for its regional debut at centre:mk will build on this momentum. Given our affluent catchment, we are confident it will be a go-to destination amongst local guests and visitors.” This signing follows the recent opening of Katie Loxton & Joma Jewellery’s debut dual-concept store at Centre:mk. The 2,357 sq ft store houses both brands in one joint space with two dedicated entrances, offering a range of handbags, accessories, home fragrances, and other gifts. FMX Urban Property Advisers and Time […]

Castlepoint to welcome family-owned furniture retailer following standout year

16th February 2026

Family-owned furniture retailer Woods Furniture is set to join Castlepoint shopping park in Bournemouth, following a standout year for the scheme. Spanning 8,438 sq ft, the new store will offer a range of home accessories, including vases, faux florals, rugs, cushions, throws and ornaments. Established in 1875, Woods Furniture currently operates two stores in Dorchester, and will join an existing homeware line-up at Castlepoint that includes the likes of Home Sense, Easy Bathrooms, ProCook, TK Maxx and Next. The letting follows a strong 2025 for Castlepoint, during which the destination welcomed over 8 million visitors and retailers delivered outstanding trading performance. Scheme owners Columbia Threadneedle Investments and Delancey said this momentum underscores their proactive management strategy in responding to consumer demand for a diverse and engaging retail experience. A spokesperson on behalf of the joint venture owners of Castlepoint commented: “We are looking forward to welcoming Woods Furniture as Castlepoint’s first dedicated furniture brand. The brand’s presence will strengthen our homeware proposition and meet consumer demand for a diverse and well-rounded shopping experience. As part of our proactive asset management strategy, we remain in ongoing discussions with a range of retailers, and following an excellent year in 2025, demand from occupiers...