Retail Property News

AS Colour opens first Yorkshire store at Victoria Leeds

28th May 2026

AS Colour has opened its first store in Yorkshire at Redical’s Victoria Leeds shopping centre. The retailer, which hails from New Zealand and specialises in blank clothing, has opened within a two-storey, 4,351 sq ft space within Victoria Quarter. AS Colour joins the existing selection of premium fashion retailers at Victoria Leeds, including Wax London, Belstaff, and Nobody’s Child. Rachel Bradburn, head of leasing at Redical, said: “AS Colour’s Yorkshire debut reminds us of Victoria Leeds’ importance in enabling brands to establish a strong brick-and-mortar presence, as retailers continue to launch milestone stores within its walls. AS Colour undoubtedly adds something different to our premium fashion mix, and we are confident they will benefit from our engaged catchment and continue on an upwards trajectory.” LM and Central Retail acted for Redical. Lightlease represented AS Colour.

Spitalfields E1 welcomes trio of F&B brands

27th May 2026

Spitalfields E1, the historic market in East London, has welcomed three new food and beverage operators this spring. The Açaí Girls has opened its fourth location in London on Brushfield Street. Founded by sisters Megan and Georgia, the concept looks to celebrate fresh, high-quality ingredients and globally-inspired flavours. The menu includes signature açai bowls and smoothies made using fairtrade açaí. Meanwhile, the team behind The Spirited introduces Double O Martini Bar, a cocktail-led concept centred around the martini, located on Market Street. Also joining the market is Funky Chips, which has opened on Lamb Street’s food hub. The operator offers loaded fries using hand-cut potatoes and signature sauces. Jason Dervin, Spitalfields estate director, said: “We are delighted to welcome three exceptional new operators to Spitalfields, each adding something new to the destination’s evolving food and drink offer. These openings reflect the quality, variety and energy that continue to shape Spitalfields, and we look forward to welcoming visitors and local communities to discover them this spring.”

The Broadway bolsters F&B lineup with GAIL’s signing at St James’s Park

27th May 2026

GAIL’s is set to open a new bakery at The Broadway, the mixed-use development at St James’s Park in London. The operator will be taking a 3,200 sq ft space, which will open in July and accommodate for 74 internal and 25 external covers. The Broadway comprises 258 residencies across six towers, alongside 116,000 sq ft of office space and 24,000 sq ft of dining and retail space at ground floor level. The addition of GAIL’s means that 12 of the scheme’s 14 retail units are now leased, representing 77% of the total retail area. The operator joins a number of food and beverage brands already present at The Broadway, including Atis, Farmer J, Coyo Taco, Açaí Berry, and Nostos Coffee. Alex Michelin, co-founder and CEO of Valouran, said: “Wherever GAIL’s open, they bring energy, a genuine sense of community and a quality that sets the tone for everything around them. They have earned a loyal following across London by never compromising on quality or craft, and their decision to open at The Broadway speaks to the exceptional destination we are creating in St James’s Park. We are excited to welcome them this summer and know they will become a […]

Redical makes two senior appointments to Merry Hill team

27th May 2026

Redical has made two appointments to the senior leadership team at Merry Hill, following the real estate owner and operator’s recent acquisition of the West Midlands scheme. Alistair Winning joins as leasing manager for Merry Hill, having spent the last four years as an asset manager at the scheme with Sovereign Centros. He will be responsible for driving Redical’s leasing strategy at the destination, using his hands-on experience at Merry Hill. Joining Winning is Fraser Jefferis, who takes up the role of asset manager for Merry Hill. He joins from JLL, where he served as director of property and asset management, and previously held the position of property manager for Hammerson’s Bullring & Grand Central in Birmingham. In his new role, Jefferis will be a key component of the day-to-day management of the asset, working as part of the centre team to accelerate growth. Mikko Syrjanen, co-founder of Redical, said: “Alistair and Fraser are exactly the calibre of people we were looking for as we establish our team at Merry Hill. Alistair’s prior involvement with the centre is a genuine asset, as he understands the market, the occupier mix and the opportunities, whilst Fraser brings a strong track record across […]

Pair of Inditex brands make regional debuts at Sheffield’s Meadowhall

26th May 2026

Inditex-owned brands Stradivarius and Pull&Bear have made their regional debuts at Meadowhall in Sheffield. The two openings bring Inditex’s presence at the scheme – which also includes Zara and Bershka stores – to over 70,000 sq ft, Pull&Bear has opened a 13,000 sq ft unit on Meadowhall’s Lower Level High Street, offering a range of menswear, womenswear, and teen clothing, alongside accessories and footwear. Next door, Stradivarius has opened a 9,000 sq ft flagship store, where it stocks the retailer’s trend-led womenswear collections. Richard Crowther, retail leasing director at British Land, said: “Stradivarius and Pull&Bear are compelling additions to our retail mix. They enhance the breadth of our fashion offer and again prove Meadowhall’s regional dominance, with two more Yorkshire debuts for international brands. Meadowhall reaches 20% of the UK’s population, and refreshing our tenant mix with exciting international names such as these means we are providing that vast catchment with access to an unrivalled collection of the best brands.”

Hollywood Bowl starts work on second venue in Northern Ireland at The Boulevard

26th May 2026

Hollywood Bowl has begun work on its second venue in Northern Ireland at The Boulevard in Banbridge. The 23,000 sq ft venue is set to feature 21 bowling lanes alongside amusements such as pool tables, interactive darts, arcade machines, and e-karting. It will also be home to a diner, offering hot dogs, burgers, shakes, and cocktails. Hollywood Bowl at The Boulevard will join the operator’s debut Northern Ireland location near the SSE Arena in Belfast. Chris Nelmes, retail director at The Boulevard, said: “We’re thrilled to see work begin behind the scenes on the new Hollywood Bowl at The Boulevard. This addition of the entertainment centre is a bold step in further enhancing our unique mix of brands, eateries and immersive experiences for guests, positioning The Boulevard as a leading destination for shopping, dining and leisure in Northern Ireland. We’re looking forward to their debut this autumn and welcoming both new and returning customers through the doors.”

The Salad Project to make travel retail debut at London Bridge Station

26th May 2026

The Salad Project is set to make its debut within a travel retail location after signing for a new restaurant at London Bridge Station. Located on Tooley Street, the 1,410 sq ft unit will sit adjacent to Wasabi and Starbucks and offer the brand’s full range of customisable salads and bowls. It will also feature 14 dine-in seats. Since launching its first location in Spitalfields in 2021, The Salad Project has grown to open 15 stores across London. The opening comes after other recent additions to London Bridge Station’s retail mix, including Popeyes and Hobbs London. Fiona Thomson, category manager at Network Rail, said: “The Salad Project has been a brand on our wish list for some time now and their rapid roll out across London shows the demand for a new kind of healthy fast food. We’re committed to giving customers what they want in our stations. With The Salad Project, we’re delivering on that commitment, bringing something that balances wellness and nutrition with bold flavours and global influences. The Salad Project is going to be a huge success, and we hope it will be one of many to open across our estate.” Florian de Chezelles, co founder of […]

M Core completes sixth letting in 12 months at Swansea retail park

22nd May 2026

M Core has completed its sixth letting in 12 months at M Parc Fforestfach in Swansea, following the signings of Wingers and Nando’s. The two food and beverage brands have signed 15-year leases for a total of nearly 6,000 sq ft of space. Wingers has taken a 2,040 sq ft unit for its first location in Wales, which will open in June. Meanwhile Nando’s will open in a 3,945 sq ft unit in July. M Core said the pace and quality of letting activity at M Parc Fforestfach is a direct result of its active asset management approach, as it looks to reposition the park around operators with strong national brand equity and loyal customer bases. Adam Martin, director and head of the Bristol Office at LCP UK, part of M Core, said: “We’re delighted to welcome both Wingers and Nando’s to M Parc Fforestfach. These lettings reflect our strategy of attracting well-loved, high-quality brands that strengthen the appeal of the park and provide even more choice for the local community. Together with the other new openings over the past year, it’s a positive picture for Fforestfach and for Swansea.” Anthony Round, franchise development at Wingers, added: “Wingers are very […]

Leicestershire retail parade handed £2.6m price tag

22nd May 2026

A retail parade in Market Harborough, Leicestershire has been placed on the investment market with an asking price of £2,600,000, reflecting a net initial yield of 7.2%. Located at 14-24 The Square, the asset comprises six retail units extending to approximately 7,039 sq ft. It is currently let to five national retailers, including a Boots Opticians, as well as a boutique chocolaterie. The property produces an annual rental income of £200,000 and has a weighted average unexpired lease term of 3.2 years to expiry and 2.8 years to break. The building’s upper parts offer future asset management and alternative use potential, subject to the necessary consents. 14-24 The Square occupies a prominent position within Market Harborough’s town centre, benefitting from strong footfall, tourism, public realm and proximity to a range of national and established local occupiers. Green & Partners has been appointed to find a suitable buyer.

Morrisons plans 100 store closures in the coming months

22nd May 2026

Morrisons is set to close 100 convenience stores over the coming months. The retailer said the stores – which were acquired through its acquisition of McColls in 2022 – had been loss-making for some time. Morrisons said difficulties in recent years had been compounded by “significant cost increases resulting from government policy choices”. This comes after the retailer said last year that it would be closing 52 cafes alongside 17 convenience stores. The chain said its proposal to close more Morrisons Daily stores meant more staff would be at risk of redundancy, and a consultation would start shortly. Morrisons operates around 1,700 Morrisons Daily convenience stores and opened over 120 franchise stores last year.

Trafford Centre to serve up Dave’s Hot Chicken this summer

22nd May 2026

Dave’s Hot Chicken is set to add to the food and beverage offering at Manchester’s Trafford Centre. The US-based hot chicken brand will join a lineup of over 40 food and beverage operators at the scheme, offering a range of Nashville-style chicken tenders and sliders. Located within The Orient food court, Dave’s Hot Chicken’s new location will feature a Los Angeles-inspired interior with a street art aesthetic. Kitty Vaughan, director and head of UK leisure and F&B leasing at Pradera, asset manager of Trafford Centre, said: “Dave’s Hot Chicken is exactly the kind of globally recognised, high-growth brand we’re focused on bringing to Trafford Centre. Its arrival reflects both the strength of the destination and the continued demand we’re seeing from leading F&B operators looking for standout, high-performing locations. “With sustained footfall, a best-in-class retail and leisure offer and a proven track record of supporting brand growth, Trafford Centre remains the optimum choice for operators looking to make an impact in the UK market.” Keyana Mohammadi, head of marketing at Dave’s Hot Chicken, added: “Trafford Centre is one of the UK’s leading retail and leisure destinations, making it the perfect home for Dave’s Hot Chicken. We’re excited to bring our spice and […]

Kuoni Travel to open standalone store at Cribbs

21st May 2026

Kuoni Travel is set to open a new standalone store at Cribbs Mall in Bristol after 12 years at the scheme. The travel operator, which currently operates within the centre’s John Lewis store, has signed a five-year lease to occupy the 600 sq ft former Goose & Gander unit. Kuoni offers a range of holidays, including long-haul island-escapes, safaris, honeymoons, road trips, family holidays, group tours, and cruises. The operator’s commitment to Cribbs Mall follows a number of new deals at the scheme, including the openings of New Zealand clothing brand Rodd & Gunn alongside MINISO. Cribbs Mall has also welcomed a number of food and beverage providers this year, including Loungers, Joe & the Juice, Wingstop and Honest Burgers. In addition, footwear and apparel brand Skechers has upsized to a new 4,700 sq ft unit at the scheme after signing a 10-year lease. Katie Searle, director of asset management at Sovereign Centros from CBRE, said: “Welcoming Kuoni Travel marks another important step in broadening and strengthening the mix of retail and leisure at Cribbs. We are always looking to evolve the offer so that it resonates with both local visitors, those travelling in from across the South West and further...