Retail Property News

Pizza Express takes another slice at Cribbs Causeway

2nd September 2025

Pizza Express is set to join Cribbs Mall in Bristol, opening its second location in Cribbs Causeway. The Italian restaurant operator has signed a 15-year lease for a 3,675 sq ft unit within the food court, formerly occupied by Café Rouge. Pizza Express will add to the existing food and beverage offer at Cribbs Mall, which includes Nandos, Slim Chickens, Chopstix, Burger King, and Patisserie Valerie. The restaurant will become Pizza Express’ second location at Cribbs Causeway, joining its existing venue at Cribbs Venue. This follows YO! Sushi’s lease renewal at Cribbs Mall last year, while Burger King and KFC have recently completed upgrades to their spaces at Cribbs Venue. Iain Minto, senior director of asset management at Sovereign Centros by CBRE, said: “Established restaurant operators are eager to benefit from our affluent catchment area and this letting to Pizza Express is a prime example of that demand. “We are also pleased to see popular brands such as YO! Sushi, Burger King and KFC invest in their spaces, highlighting the confidence they have in Cribbs. We look forward to working with our F&B occupiers as we create an environment that ensures they thrive, whilst looking to secure new arrivals maintaining […]

Property trade body members vote in favour of RE:UK merger

2nd September 2025

The formation of Real Estate: UK (RE:UK), a representative organisation for the real estate sector, will go ahead after members of three trade bodies voted in favour of a merger. All members of the Association of Real Estate Funds (AREF), 99.5% of British Property Federation (BPF) members, and 92% of members from the Investment Property Forum (IPF) who voted expressed their support for the merger. RE:UK will look to serve as a unified voice for the entire real estate sector, comprising institutional and private investors, property companies, developers, asset owners, managers, and advisers. The group said its activities will be based around six key pillars: advocacy; research and data; thought leadership and innovation; networking and events; upskilling and training; and standards and guidance. RE:UK will launch on 1 January 2026. Members will initially have dual membership and 2026 will serve as a transitional period as the organisations are fully integrated. This follows the recent appointment of British Land’s chief executive Simon Carter as president of the BPF. Anne Breen, AREF chair, said: “The response from the memberships of AREF, BPF and IPF has been overwhelmingly positive and a strong endorsement of our vision for a single, amplified voice for the...

Former Chelsea restaurant acquired by property group

1st September 2025

A property at 49 King’s Road in Chelsea, London formerly owned and operated by McDonald’s has been acquired by property investment company Martin’s Properties. The acquisition increases Martin’s Properties’ holdings on the south side of the King’s Road, with the group now looking to invest further in upgrading and extending the asset before securing a high-end tenant for the property. The group is aiming to expand the current footprint of the property through planning consent, upgrading the entire building – including the upper floor residential – and improving its ESG credentials. Martin’s Properties has previously repositioned such assets, having delivered similar work at 33 King’s Road, 44 King’s Road, 13 Radnor Walk, 111-115 King’s Road, and 197-209 King’s Road. Richard Bourne, CEO of Martin’s Properties, said: “Chelsea is renowned as a location that is vibrant, attractive, diverse and a symbol of affluence and success, which supports its enduring appeal. The family-owned business has owned assets on the Kings Road for over 80 years and has been instrumental in improving the quality of the offer that can be seen today. “The opportunity to acquire another prime block on the Kings Road was compelling and we will use our experience to add value […]

Tech retailer appoints Savills as it seeks 400 sites

1st September 2025

Technology retailer WYE has appointed Savills to advise on its expansion plans as it looks to open up to 400 sites over the next five years. A manufacturer and supplier of mobile phone and tech accessories, WYE operates through a network of units ranging from kiosks to shops. WYE’s expansion strategy includes both modular kiosks and full shop fit-outs, with the retailer specifically targeting shopping centre locations. The brand has also developed a solar-powered external design specifically for the out-of-town retail market, which will be rolled out over the next 12 months. Neil Grice, director in retail at Savills, said: “WYE is redefining the mobile accessories sector across the UK. They have perfected a retail format that can be deployed quickly and adapted to a variety of locations. They are uniquely placed to combine aesthetic appeal with operational efficiency, helping landlords transform underutilised areas into valuable retail space. We are delighted to be working with them on their expansion plans, as they seek to rapidly grow their presence across the UK.” Haron Noori, group CEO at WYE, added: “Working with Savills represents a significant step forward in delivering on our strategic plans for UK growth, both in the short and long term. […]

Ikea opens ‘Plan & Order Point’ in York

1st September 2025

Ikea has continued its ongoing expansion with the opening of a ‘Plan & Order Point’ store at Clifton Moor Retail Park in York. The smaller format store is dedicated to kitchen and bedroom planning, and provides customers with home furnishing advice. Customers are able to book a free appointment with one of the York store’s six planning specialists or use the in-store self-service tools to design their own solution. At Ikea Plan and Order Points, customers are able to order from the entire Ikea product range, with the options for next day collection or home delivery. The store will also offer a collection area for orders made online, and will providing services for customers wanting to return any IKEA purchase. Conor Doherty, IKEA market manager, said: “We’re thrilled to open the doors to our new IKEA Plan and Order Point in York. This welcoming space is designed to inspire; offering a chance to explore our unique kitchen ranges and smart storage solutions. It’s the perfect place to discover IKEA’s extensive selection of affordable home products, suited to every budget. Plus, it provides a convenient new location for collecting online orders and purchases from our Hull and Leeds stores.” The opening forms part […]

Astrid & Miyu makes national debut at Belfast’s Victoria Square

1st September 2025

Astrid & Miyu has opened its first store in Northern Ireland at Victoria Square in Belfast. The contemporary jewellery brand has taken a 1,800 sq ft store at the scheme, which features a piercing salon and a silver recycling scheme. Meanwhile, beauty brand Space NK is also joining the destination, relocating from its city centre store to Victoria Square. The brand is taking a 3,500 sq ft unit on the lower ground level, adjacent to Reiss, AllSaints, and Astrid & Miyu. Space NK will sit alongside complementary names such as Rituals, Sculpted by Aimee, and The White Company. Russell Banham, UK Head at Commerz Real, asset manager of Victoria Square, said: “Astrid & Miyu selecting Victoria Square for its debut and Space NK relocating into the centre are very strong endorsements. As with the signing of Bershka earlier in the year, they highlight how important our asset is for brands, whether they are taking those first steps in a new market or are established operators seeking the very best space Belfast has to offer. They add another layer to our compelling tenant mix, extending our offer and creating more reasons for people to visit.” The news follows the recent announcement...

Canary Wharf Group makes a splash with plans for natural lido

29th August 2025

Canary Wharf Group (CWG) has announced plans to create a 50 metre natural lido at Eden Dock in London. Called Sea Lanes Canary Wharf, the facility will also feature saunas and a community clubhouse, alongside a food and beverage offer. The health and wellbeing destination will be designed, built, and operated by Sea Lanes, the team behind Sea Lanes Brighton, the UK’s first National Open Water Swimming Centre. The six-lane, 50 metre long pool will have a fixed depth of 1.3 metres and will float in the dock. Cut off from the River Thames and naturally filtered, the water quality in Eden Dock is consistently rated “Excellent” by EU bathing standards and is popular amongst open water swimmers across the UK. Shobi Khan, CEO at CWG, said: “Almost one year on from the opening of Eden Dock, we’re making another bold step forward in the enhancement of our green and blue spaces at Canary Wharf. Sea Lanes Canary Wharf will build on the success of Eden Dock as a unique wellness destination, where access to nature, leisure and world-class amenities are seamlessly integrated.” Created in partnership with education and social charity the Eden Project, Eden Dock looks to provide an urban oasis in […]

John Lewis Partnership expands BTR business to nearly 1,000 homes

29th August 2025

The John Lewis Partnership (JLP) has expanded its build-to-rent operational business with the addition of a fourth site, taking the total number of homes it manages on behalf of Aberdeen Investments to nearly 1,000 homes. From September, the JLP will take over the management of Stratford Studios in East London, which which was developed in 2022 and comprises 158 studio apartments. The JLP’s build-to-rent operations business was established nearly two years ago to operate existing rental homes and manage new ones developed by JLP as they’re completed. It currently manages 326 homes in the Clarendon Quarter in Leeds, 232 homes in the Queen Street Quarter in Leicester, and 259 homes in Landrow Place in Birmingham. All four buildings are owned by clients of Aberdeen Investments, which sees JLP build on the £500m joint venture it has with the global investment company to develop and manage homes. Stratford Studios, located near The Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, sits in close proximity to transport links and a range of dining, entertainment, and shopping options. The building was converted from offices to residential homes with shared areas for home-working and socialising as part of plans to regenerate the area following the 2012 Olympic Games. Katherine Russell, director […]

British Retail Consortium appoints new chair

29th August 2025

The British Retail Consortium (BRC) has appointed Jo Whitfield CBE as chair-elect. She will succeed Andy Higginson when his tenure comes to an end on 2nd October 2025. Whitfield has 25 years’ experience in retail, having held leadership roles at Matalan, the Co-operative Group, and Asda. She is currently a non-executive and audit chair at Asda and a non-executive and chair of Ethics Committee at Factory International, which hosts the Manchester International Festival. Whitfield previously founded and chaired The Grocery Girls network and was an advisor and retail sector lead on the Women’s Business Council. She also played a leading industry role campaigning alongside the BRC to achieve better safety recognition and a change to the law to protect retail workers. She will be joined by Eve Williams, as a new non-executive director on the BRC board. Eve Williams is currently vice president and general manager of eBay UK. Jo Whitfield said: “I’m honoured to be joining the BRC as its first female chair, and to be supporting Helen (Dickinson) and her team at such a pivotal time. Retail is an incredibly valuable industry, employing over 3 million people who support their families through their work. It’s also uniquely inclusive […]

Clintons reopens at Newcastle’s Eldon Square

29th August 2025

Clintons is set to reopen at Eldon Square in Newcastle after relocating within the centre. The new store unveils the greeting card retailer’s latest design concept, marking the next step in Clintons’ rollout of its refreshed shopping experience. Opening in September, the new store will feature a wider range of products, including home fragrances and plush toys. Helen Cowie, centre director at Eldon Square, said: “We are delighted to welcome Clintons back into the centre at their new home. The brand is a firm favourite with shoppers, and their new concept design makes it the perfect destination for gift buyers. Their reopening adds to the strong mix of retailers here at Eldon Square, and we’re excited for visitors to rediscover the new location.” James Taylor, trading director at Clintons, added: “We’re thrilled to be reopening in Eldon Square with our latest concept store. Eldon Square is such an important location for us, and this allows us to bring our refreshed store design and exciting new product ranges to customers. From exclusive home fragrances to our brand-new greetings card collections, we’re confident shoppers will love what we’ve brought to the new store.” Eldon Square is managed by Pradera Lateral and Savills.     ...

Asda to open 20 convenience stores in four weeks

28th August 2025

Asda is set to open 20 new convenience stores over four weeks, as the retailer resumes its Asda Express store rollout. The new stores will aim to grow Asda’s footprint in high-footfall urban areas, residential locations, and transport hubs – sites where the retailer has traditionally been underrepresented. The first store will open in Castleford, Yorkshire, in October. This will be followed by openings in up to 20 more locations across the UK in the space of a month from late October onwards. Asda Express stores look to cater to a broad range of customer needs, including ‘top up’ shops for essential items such as milk and bread, on-the-go lunches, and dinners. The retailer launched its first Express store in 2022, before pausing the launch of standalone Express sites while it converted the 469 stores it had acquired from the Co-op and EG Group. David Lepley, chief supply chain officer at Asda, said: “We’re thrilled to kick off the next phase of our Express rollout and bring our heritage in delivering outstanding value to more locations across the UK. “In just three years, we’ve grown from zero convenience stores to establishing a major presence in the channel, with almost 500 stores […]

Lidl secures investor offer to fund construction of 35 stores

28th August 2025

Lidl has reached an agreement with an investor to finance the construction of 35 stores across the UK and Europe. The portfolio, which includes 17 UK supermarkets, is currently under offer by investment group ICG for over €250m (£215m), The Grocer has reported. Under the terms of the agreement, the stores will be leased back to Lidl once they are constructed. These terms are similar to those of Lidl’s first UK sale-and-leaseback deal in the UK, which was agreed with Roadside Real Estate in October last year. Lidl has typically expanded across the UK by building and owning its stores, but has recently become more open to leasehold deals to encourage faster expansion. The retailer is expecting to complete the deal this financial year. A Lidl International spokesperson told The Grocer: “The qualitative and quantitative expansion of our network of stores has always been a key driver for the sustainable growth of our company. “As a matter of principle, we do not focus on short-term developments, but always think long-term, economically, and sustainably. In particularly promising market situations, we consciously decide to develop properties and projects together with partners and investors.” ICG declined to comment. This comes as Lidl looks...