Retail Property Deals

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...

Luton Point welcomes flurry of new signings

11th December 2024

Frasers Group, advised by Sovereign Centros from CBRE, has signed several new deals at Luton Point (formerly The Mall Luton) shopping centre. Leading the signings is fashion and home outlet, Choice, which has exchanged on a 13,400 sq ft store with a sales area of 7,000 sq ft. The new store is set to open in the first quarter of 2025. Meanwhile, bakery chain Greggs has agreed to relocate to a larger premises within the scheme, while children’s toy retailer ToyTown recently opened a 6,700 sq ft store at Luton Point. Finally, Indian takeaway restaurant operator Tikka Nation has taken a 1,788 sq ft unit, set to open next year. The businesses join existing tenants at the 900,000 sq ft scheme, such as anchor retailers Primark, H&M, and Tk Maxx. Mark Stapleton, asset manager at Sovereign Centros from CBRE, said: “Luton Point’s position in the heart of the town is underlined by these deals which continue to build on our strong retail and hospitality offer.” Neil Donovan, managing director of Choice, added: “Our new Luton Point store sits in a dominant retail destination offering us a superb trading opportunity and allowing us to showcase our fantastic product range.” NM Real Estate […]

Baby and parenting brand Ebebek to make UK debut at Lakeside

10th December 2024

Baby and parenting retailer Ebebek is set to open its first store in the UK at Lakeside Shopping Centre in West Thurrock, Essex this winter. The new store will occupy a 12,378 sq ft unit, offering products for babies, children, and families. The Turkish brand is aiming to become the go-to destination for parents in the UK, with plans to open additional stores in and around London. Ebebek joins a number of family-friendly brands which already have a presence at Lakeside Shopping Centre, such as The Entertainer, KidEco, and Babyeze. Rob Jewell, managing director of asset management at Pradera Lateral, said: “Our team is always looking for tenants that can enhance our centre’s offer to customers, therefore we’re delighted to welcome the first Ebebek UK store to Lakeside Shopping Centre. It joins the existing centre portfolio of over 220 brands, and further highlights our commitment to contracting new and relevant retailers that positively contribute to the overall shopping experience.” Mr Halil Erdogmus, director of Ebebek, added: “The opening of our first UK store at Lakeside Shopping Centre is a significant milestone for Ebebek UK, and we are excited to be opening in this prime retail destination. Lakeside offers the perfect […]

African-inspired restaurant to open at London Designer Outlet

10th December 2024

Fast-growing African-inspired restaurant concept Afrikana is set to open at London Designer Outlet (LDO) in Wembley Park. Signing a 15-year lease for a 2,688 sq ft restaurant, the operator will offer a menu which includes grilled chicken, sharing platters, steak, lamb chops, goat curry, and seafood. Founded in 2018, Afrikana looks to combine food with art, music, and culture, offering events such as R&B brunches and live entertainment. Opening later this year, Afrikana will join LDO’s existing food and beverage offering which includes the likes of Nando’s, Zizzi, Wagamama, Pizza Express and Las Iguanas. Matt Slade, retail director at LDO’s owner Quintain, said: “Afrikana is an excellent addition to LDO’s F&B line-up, and we expect it to become a popular eatery amongst our customer base thanks to its excellent choice of dishes alongside an exciting dining experience inspired by art and music. It has been great to work with Afrikana’s team on this letting, especially given the franchisee’s previous investment with the wider Wembley Park estate. “F&B plays a vital role in the success of outlet retail and having a diverse mix of operators helps to attract customers from surrounding areas. At LDO we have worked hard to not only […]

Rituals opens new store at The Liberty Romford

10th December 2024

Beauty and wellbeing brand Rituals has opened a new store at Redical’s The Liberty Romford shopping centre. The 1,162 sq ft store – which is Rituals’ first location in Romford – offers the brand’s full range of wellbeing products for bath, body, and home. Located on Liberty Square, Rituals benefits from The Liberty Romford’s annual footfall of 13.6 million and high dwell time, which is 21% higher than comparable shopping centre benchmarks, according to CACI. Oliver Lloyd, leasing director at Redical, said: “Rituals opening at The Liberty Romford symbolises the start of the destination’s retail elevation and marks the first of many exciting brands to join the scheme. Under Redical’s ownership and leadership, we are able to fully unlock the potential of the destination by enhancing the tenant mix and enriching customer experiences. Rituals is a fantastic brand to welcome to the destination and signifies to the market that our transformation is well under way!” Cushman & Wakefield and Green & Partners acted for The Liberty Romford.

Quadrant completes flurry of deals at pair of retail parks

9th December 2024

Real estate asset management and development company Quadrant has completed a number of deals on behalf of its retained client AshbyCapital at two retail park assets. At Morfa Shopping Park in Swansea, JD Sports and TUI have now both arrived after agreeing new deals with Quadrant. JD Sports has taken a 10-year lease on a 10,000 sq ft store for its third location in Swansea, whilst TUI has taken a five-year lease on a 1,500 sq ft pod. Lease renewals have also been signed with EE and Card Factory. Meanwhile at Abbotsinch Shopping Park in Paisley, Scotland, six new deals have been completed with existing retailers, all of which have taken 10-year leases. DFS has renewed on 25,000 sq ft of space, whilst Sofology and Dunelm each remain in their 20,000 sq ft units. Wren has re-signed for its 15,000 sq ft store whilst ScS and Dreams have renewed at their 10,000 sq ft and 5,000 sq ft stores respectively. John Maddison, partner at Quadrant, said: “Relevant, well-located and well-managed retail parks remain popular amongst consumers who want to partake in physical shopping, be it for big-ticket items or simply an experiential day out with family and friends. These renewal […]

Fashion brand to open UK flagship store on Covent Garden’s Neal Street

9th December 2024

Fashion brand Urban Revivo is set to open its first flagship UK store at 8-12 Neal Street in Covent Garden, London. The retailer has signed a five-year lease for a 5,300 sq ft space previously occupied by Mango and arranged over basement, ground, and first floors. Urban Revivo joins a number of new retailers in the area, with neighbours including Alo Yoga, Onitsuka Tiger, Brandy Melville, Barbour, Space NK, and Nobody’s Child. Founded in China in 2006, the brand is known for offering high fashion designs at accessible price points. As part of its global expansion strategy, Urban Revivo is planning to open more flagship stores which look to showcase its collections while also providing an engaging experience. Savills acted for Urban Revivo. Cushman & Wakefield advised the landlord HIH Invest Neal Street Limited. Sam Foyle, co-head of Global Retail at Savills, said: “We’re excited to be building Urban Revivo’s platform across the UK and Europe, with the brand setting its sights on major markets as part of its ambitious 2025 expansion plans. Pioneering in its fit-out designs and concepts, which is evident in its store portfolio across the APAC region, we can’t wait to see Urban Revivo bring this innovation […]

McDonald’s takes 6,800 sq ft at Kent retail scheme

5th December 2024

McDonald’s has opened the doors to a 6,824 sq ft restaurant at M Swanley, an open-air retail destination in Kent. The fast food restaurant chain has signed a 15-year lease for Units 29-30, which have recently undergone an extensive fit-out. Formerly known as Swanley Square, M Swanley is an 85,000 sq ft retail destination located on the A20. The centre is the primary retail destination for local residents and is neighboured by an Asda superstore. Philip M Murphy, head of property and transactions at Evolve Estates, part of M Core, said: “We are delighted to welcome McDonald’s to M Swanley. This popular fast food chain is a fantastic addition to our diverse tenant mix and will further enhance the retail and leisure experience for our visitors.” Connor Spence, acquisitions surveyor (South) at McDonald’s, added: “We are excited to open the doors to our new restaurant at M Swanley. We believe that our presence will bring added convenience and choice to the local community. We look forward to becoming an integral part of the M Swanley shopping experience.”

TJ Hughes takes former Wilko unit at Wolverhampton’s Mander Centre

5th December 2024

TJ Hughes has opened its new store at The Mander Centre in Wolverhampton, occupying the space previously let to Wilko. The discount department retailer has signed a 10-year lease for the 19,000 sq ft unit, which opened at the end of November. This marks the return of TJ Hughes to The Mander Centre after almost a decade, following the closure of the retailer’s previous store. TJ Hughes at The Mander Centre offers a variety of products across categories such as home goods, electricals, fashion, and beauty. Harry Wilce, asset manager at Catella APAM, said: “We are incredibly pleased with the rapid turnaround of this transaction. From agreeing terms in early October to completing the lease and opening the store for trade just weeks later, this swift process demonstrates the strong demand for prime retail space at The Mander Centre and the dedication of all parties involved in bringing this to fruition.” Richard Scharenguivel, centre manager at The Mander Centre, added: “We are thrilled to welcome TJ Hughes back to The Mander Centre after almost 10 years. Their return is a testament to the ongoing appeal of the centre, and we are excited to see them thrive in this new location.”...

Victoria Leeds welcomes two new openings amid record footfall

5th December 2024

Victoria Leeds has welcomed the opening of two new stores, as the scheme records its strongest-ever yearly footfall figures at Victoria Gate in 2024. Making its regional debut, leather bag brand Cambridge Satchel has opened its third boutique in the UK within Victoria Quarter. The brand’s 881 sq ft store features a range of women’s and men’s collections, including satchels, handbags, backpacks, and briefcases. Meanwhile, independent home décor store Northhome has relocated and upsized within the scheme. The retailer has more than doubled its presence, now trading across four floors in a 4,230 sq ft store located in Victoria Quarter’s County Arcade. Northhome’s expanded store offers an expanded range of Scandinavian-style furniture, ceramics, lighting, kitchenware and skincare, as well as a new gourmet food hall and basement bar. The openings cap off what is expected to be the busiest year in Victoria Leeds’ eight-year history. Footfall at Victoria Gate is up 15% compared to the centre’s previously busiest footfall year of 2019. An additional 850,000 people have been through the scheme’s doors in 2024, with Victoria Gate on target to achieve a million more visitors than 2019 by the end of the year. Rachel Bradburn, leasing director at Victoria Leeds, […]

LCP repurposes over 41,000 sq ft at Sunderland retail park

4th December 2024

LCP, part of M Core, has welcomed three new tenants to M The Galleries Washington, taking the total amount of repurposed space at the Sunderland scheme to over 41,000 sq ft. Country Kitchen and Eden Mobility have opened on the ground floor, with Natural Soul Skincare adding to the retail offer on the first floor. These new openings follow on from 19 deals which have already been completed at M The Galleries this year. Country Kitchen has signed a five-year lease for a 1,167 sq ft unit in Wessington Square which has undergone a full refurbishment. Also committing to a five-year lease is Eden Mobility, which has opened in a 1,337 sq ft space. The retailer offers products and services for those with mobility needs, such as scooters, stairlifts, chairs and bathroom adaptations. Both retailers opened at the end of September. Sustainable beauty brand Natural Soul Skincare has also signed a five-year lease, taking a 280 sq ft unit which opened its doors in November. The centre has also been recently awarded a RoSPA Gold Award to recognising its levels of health and safety management, as well as a Green Apple award, commending its commitment to reducing energy consumption. Simon Eatough, director...