Retail Property Deals

Missoma opens first store outside of London at Victoria Leeds

19th August 2024

British jewellery brand Missoma has opened its first store outside of London at Redical’s Victoria Leeds shopping centre. The store is the demi-fine jeweller’s second-ever permanent store, following the opening of its Covent Garden flagship in November 2023. Located in the scheme’s County Arcade, the 2,250 sq ft store spans multiple levels and includes piercing and welding studios. The store showcases the brand’s collection of gold and silver pieces, including collaborations with fashion designers and style icons, Harris Reed, Savi, and Lucy Williams. Rachel Bradburn, leasing director at Victoria Leeds, said: “Missoma selecting Victoria Leeds as the destination for its first store outside of London reinforces our reputation as a renowned destination offering opportunities for brands to confidently embark on regional growth in the UK. We are excited to be a part of Missoma’s journey and to welcome customers through the door to explore exceptional demi-fine jewellery.” Marisa Hordern, founder and creative director at Missoma, added: “Community is at the heart of what we do, and Victoria Leeds offers a highly engaging environment that aligns perfectly with our values. We aim to inspire confidence and encourage self-expression in all our customers and are excited to grow our Leeds community and […]

Clearbell brings chicken wing concept to Coventry’s Belgrade Plaza

16th August 2024

Clearbell Property Partners, a fund managed by Clearbell Capital, has agreed a deal with King Wingz to bring the American chicken wing diner to Belgrade Plaza in Coventry. Taking a 4,433 sq ft unit, the F&B operator has signed to the city centre destination on a 15-year lease. Opening in 2008, Belgrade Plaza spans 129,500 sq ft and offers a mixture of retail, leisure, and residential facilities. These include apartments, a 120-bed hotel, restaurants, a retail unit, and a gym. Current occupiers at the scheme include Premier Inn, Pizza Express, Café Rouge, and JD Gyms. Toby Saul, associate director at Clearbell Capital, said: “We are excited to welcome Wing Kingz to Belgrade Plaza, enriching our dining scene with even greater variety. This addition reflects our commitment to continuously enhancing the overall experience for everyone who walks through the doors. With Wing Kingz joining us, we take another step forward in our journey to solidify Belgrade Plaza’s position as a premier destination for dining and entertainment.” Richard Jones, director at Avison Young, added: “We were pleased to act for Clearbell in attracting Wing Kingz to Belgrade Plaza. They are a welcome addition to the tenant line up and will offer something unique...

OFFICE returns to Milton Keynes

16th August 2024

OFFICE has opened its latest store at Centre:mk in Milton Keynes, marking a return to the city for the fashion footwear specialist. Taking a 5,400 sq ft store, the retailer joins a number of leading fashion brands at Centre:mk, including Mango, Reiss, and Mint Velvet. Located on Midsummer Arcade, OFFICE’s new store offers the brand’s range of men’s, women’s, and kid’s footwear collections. The store features a number of popular brands such as Birkenstock, UGG, Dr Martens, Adidas, Nike, On Running and New Balance, as well as a range of own brand styles. The retailer’s previous Milton Keynes store was located in Midsummer Place. OFFICE at Centre:mk joins the new regional debut for performance sportswear brand, Castore, and leads the way for a number of new store launches this autumn at the scheme, including British womenswear brand, Mint Velvet. Kevin Duffy, centre director at Centre:mk, said: “As the latest brand to open at the centre, OFFICE’s launch signals a significant vote in confidence in Centre:mk. The brand’s return to the city spotlights our standing as the go-to location for leading retailers, a position bolstered by the best-in-class brands that continue to invest in the destination.” FMX and Time Retail Partners […]

KIKO Milano to open largest regional store at Metrocentre

15th August 2024

KIKO Milano is set to open its largest store in the North East of England at Gateshead’s Metrocentre this autumn. Taking a 1,624 sq ft unit in the centre’s Lower Red Mall, the Italian beauty retailer will offer a range of makeup, skincare, and haircare products. KIKO Milano will complement the existing beauty line-up at Metrocentre, joining H Beauty and the incoming Sephora, which will open in September. Ben Cox, director at asset manager Sovereign Centros from CBRE, said: “This latest signing reaffirms Metrocentre’s status as the premier shopping destination in the North East. KIKO Milano’s arrival on Red Mall is another great addition to the varied beauty offer at Metrocentre. With Sephora also less than a month away from opening, it is an exciting time for the beauty conscious shopper, due to our real breadth of choice. This letting underscores Metrocentre’s commitment to expanding and diversifying the category, and enhancing the overall experience.” Paul Devin, country director of the UK and Ireland at KIKO Milano, added: “As we continue our ambitious growth plans, bringing our brand to Metrocentre is one of the most exciting pillars of our strategy. With such an iconic shopping destination that has a great beauty offering, […]

Evolve Estates expands tenant mix at Northampton’s Grosvenor Centre

14th August 2024

Evolve Estates has continued to expand the tenant mixture at The Grosvenor Centre in Northampton with the signing of Nipa’s Hair & Beauty. The salon will join the centre later this month on a three-year lease, taking a 1,163 sq ft unit on Princes Walk. The new signing follows the recent news that fashion retailer H&M will be joining The Grosvenor Centre, taking a 29,160 sq ft unit. Coffee shop Bewiched has also joined the scheme, opening in a 4,359 sq ft unit. In addition to the new signings, music and entertainment retailer HMV has renewed the lease for its 2,830 sq ft store on Princes Walk for another three years. Philip M Murphy, head of property and transactions at Evolve Estates, said: “We are delighted to welcome Nipa’s Hair & Beauty to The Grosvenor Centre, along with H&M and Bewiched. These new tenants further diversify the centre’s offering, catering to a wider range of customer preferences. “We are also pleased with HMV’s decision to renew their lease at this high-footfall destination and are confident that all of these tenants will contribute significantly to the ongoing success of The Grosvenor Centre.”

British Land snaps up £45m retail warehouse portfolio

14th August 2024

British Land has acquired a portfolio of three UK retail warehouse assets from M7 Box+ II, a fund managed by M7 Real Estate, for over £45m. St David’s Retail Park in Bangor, Queens Drive Retail Park in Kilmarnock and Enham Arch Retail Park in Andover, comprise a total of over 270,000 sq ft of retail warehouse space, with strong occupancy levels and a blended weighted average lease term (WALT) of over five years. Since acquiring the assets on behalf of M& Box+ II in 2020, M7 said it has successfully re-geared a number of leases with key tenants and leased vacant units improving income profile and WALT. M7 manages a number of retail warehouse assets across the UK, with a current portfolio under management totalling over 2 million sq ft. Following the sale, four assets remain in M7 Box+ II’s portfolio. John Pow, managing director at M7 Real Estate, said: “This transaction marks the conclusion of our asset management strategy for these assets and generates a solid return for our investors. The sale allows the fund to return equity back to investors whilst we continue to work through the asset management strategy for the remaining four assets. The retail warehousing sector...

Indian street food restaurant lines up Trafford Centre opening

14th August 2024

Authentic Indian street food restaurant Chit ‘n’ Chaat is set to open at Manchester’s Trafford Centre this autumn. Taking a 2,000 sq ft location, the opening marks a fourth restaurant in Manchester for the locally born-and-bred brand, which is continuing its expansion in the North. Adding to the Trafford Centre’s existing range of dining options, Chit ‘n’ Chaat will form part of the scheme’s new-look dining area in the Upper Orient. The area – previously referred to as Chinatown – will look to be a vibrant and visually impressive dining destination, home to Manchester’s up-and-coming brands. Kitty Vaughan, head of UK leisure and F&B leasing at Pradera Lateral, said: “The opening of Chit ‘n’ Chaat is a highly valuable addition to Trafford Centre, reflecting our commitment to providing an exciting and varied dining experience for our visitors. We look forward to welcoming Chit ‘n’ Chaat and are confident that their authentic Indian street food will resonate well with our diverse customer base and become a popular dining destination for all.” Sagar Modha, co-founder of Chit ‘n’ Chaat, added: “Trafford Centre is a dream location for our brand. After nearly two years of planning, we are proud to achieve this milestone and look […]

New York-style pizzeria opens on the King’s Road

13th August 2024

Alley Cats, the New York-style pizzeria, has opened a new restaurant on Chelsea’s King’s Road, marking the brand’s second location to date. The 1,277 sq ft restaurant at 342 King’s Road has been designed to mirror an authentic New York dining experience, utilising a mixture of central tables with gingham tablecloths, as well as upcycled church pew-style seating. Hannah Grievson, property director at Sloane Stanley, said: “King’s Road is rich in distinctive concepts, and Alley Cats is the perfect addition to its line-up. It brings an inspiring menu that captures the true essence of a genuine New York dining experience, both in taste and atmosphere, and it’s an offer that resonates with our community, suiting locals, residents, and visitors. Our roster of restaurants is continuing to grow, and we’re pleased to see a thriving independent open its doors on our estate and make its mark on the Chelsea neighbourhood.” Alley Cats’ arrival follows the recent opening of Dez Amore on Sloane Stanley’s Fulham Road, with the operator opening its first standalone restaurant space. Specialising in traditional Italian dishes, the restaurant sits alongside operators such as Josephine by Claude Bosi, and Kiss The Hippo.

Primark takes former BHS for first store in Royal Tunbridge Wells

12th August 2024

Primark is set to open its first store in Royal Tunbridge Wells after acquiring the former BHS building in the town centre. The clothing retailer will trade from two floors in the unit which extends into the Royal Victoria Place shopping centre. The scheme was acquired last year by Tunbridge Wells Borough Council – which has been working with asset and development manager RivingtonHark to bring new brands to the scheme. Councillor Justine Rutland, Tunbridge Wells Borough Council’s chair of the investment advisory panel and cabinet member for economic development, said: “t was really important to us to see the former BHS unit filled with a store that many residents, especially young people, have been asking for, and which will complement existing businesses. “Its arrival will create jobs and lead to a significant increase in footfall, bringing economic benefits to the town and the wider borough. “Where Primark goes, other retailers follow, so this is a great reason to be cheerful for the future of the town centre.” Primark is expected to begin its refurbishment of the site shortly. Earlier this year, Primark said it was planning to invest over £100m into its store estate in 2024, as the retailer […]

Shelley Sandzer brings F&B duo to Ealing’s New Broadway

12th August 2024

Acting on behalf of a private landlord, specialist agency Shelley Sandzer has secured chicken wing restaurant Wingstop and dessert restaurant Heavenly Desserts for adjacent units at Ealing’s New Broadway. Wingstop will take a 2,750 sq ft unit on New Broadway, with a menu that includes the likes of wings, tenders, burgers, and fries. Since arriving in the UK in 2018, the brand has experienced rapid growth, now operating almost 50 sites in Britain. Opening adjacent to Wingstop, Heavenly Desserts will take a 1,800 sq ft unit, serving a range of desserts. Tom Grogan, co-founder of Lemon Pepper Holdings, Wingstop UK’s master franchisee, said: “We are thrilled to be opening in Ealing, bringing our popular menu and flavours to a new audience. We’ve experienced staggering growth over the last year as we continue to roll out our biggest opening pipeline, and Ealing will be a great addition to our portfolio of sites; a local high street with a strong catchment of opportunity.” Nick Weir, joint managing partner at Shelley Sandzer, added: “To be able to bring not one, but two great F&B brands to New Broadway is a testament to our dedication to securing the very best concepts and locations for...

Wingstop to open at Leeds White Rose

9th August 2024

Chicken wing restaurant Wingstop is set to open its third restaurant in Leeds next week at White Rose Shopping Centre. Opening on 12 August, the 60-cover restaurant’s menu will offer the likes of wings, tenders, burgers, and sides. Since entering the UK in 2018, the American chain has opened nearly 50 restaurants in the British market. Tom Grogan, co-founder of Lemon Pepper Holdings, Wingstop UK’s master franchisee, said: “We are excited to expand our presence in Leeds, opening a new site in one of the country’s most famous shopping centres.” “This comes at a very exciting time for Wingstop UK as we approach our 50th site and have an ambitious pipeline of openings well into 2025”, he added. Earlier this year, Wingstop said it was looking to open 15 new UK stores in 2024, its most ambitious opening pipeline since arriving in Britain. It was also reported earlier this week that the chain was considering a sale of its UK operations, and has hired Goldman Sachs to find new owners.

Itsu picks Trafford Centre for first northern shopping centre location

9th August 2024

Itsu is set to open its first shopping centre location in the north of England at Manchester’s Trafford Centre. Opening in autumn 2024, the 2,900 sq ft restaurant will be located on Upper Regent Crescent and offer the restaurant’s range of Asian-inspired food. The new restaurant will offer digital ordering screens, with a menu that includes the likes of sushi, salads, wraps, and soups. The Trafford Centre restaurant – which will be Itsu’s third site in the North – will offer both dine-in and takeaway options. Having launched its sustainability and social impact programme in 2023, Trafford Centre’s ESG commitments align with Itsu’s approach to sustainability. The restaurant operator utilises eco-friendly packaging and implements energy-efficient practices and recycling for customers. Kitty Vaughan, head of UK leisure and F&B leasing at Pradera Lateral, said: “There is a real appetite for fresh and healthy produce in the UK market currently, with elevated brand’s such as Itsu expanding at an impressive rate. As such, Itsu is a positive addition to our food and beverage offering at Trafford Centre, as we continue to offer our visitors a versatile range of food options.”