Retail Property News

MGI Holdings acquires Croydon leisure block

13th January 2026

MGI Holdings has completed the off-market acquisition of Grants Entertainment Centre in Croydon, South London. The 160,840 sq ft property, situated within Croydon’s main retail and leisure district, is home to occupiers such as Vue, Tokia Square, Nando’s, and Nuffield Health. MGI Holdings said it is planning to embark on an ambitious regeneration of the site to reinvigorate its offering and reinforce Croydon’s position as one of London’s most dynamic urban centres. A spokesperson for the property investment company said: “We are very excited to undertake the regeneration of the Grants Entertainment Centre. “The Grants Centre is a listed former department store steeped in history and now has an exciting chapter ahead. We are looking forward to creating a new leisure hub in the heart of one of London’s fastest growing suburbs.” GCW, which advised MGI Holdings on the transaction, has been appointed to handle the leasing at Grants Entertainment Centre, with Blackstar Real Estate acting as asset manager. BGP represented the vendor in the transaction. This comes a month after MGI Holdings acquired a multi-let retail parade in Leicester city centre for £7.75m.

Søstrene Grene unveils target locations as it looks to expand UK estate

13th January 2026

Søstrene Grene has released its latest list of target locations as it looks to open more stores across the UK. The Danish homewares brand is looking to open stores in cities and towns across the UK with a minimum population of 45,000. Affluent locations and university cities are preferred. Ideal units will be located on busy high streets and within shopping centres and will extend to approximately 4,800 sq ft. Last year, the retailer – which specialises in homewares, furniture, kitchenware, and hobby products – said it was looking to double its UK store estate to 100 locations by 2027. The retailer’s priority regional locations include: Søstrene Grene is also looking to open new stores within London, with target locations including: Hynes Illingsworth have been retained by Søstrene Grene to find suitable locations.

Industry veteran joins Knight Frank’s Global Occupier Strategy & Solutions team from Cushman & Wakefield

13th January 2026

Knight Frank has appointed James Maddock as a partner within its Global Occupier Strategy & Solutions team. He joins from Cushman & Wakefield, where he has spent his entire 35-year career. In his new role, Maddock will work closely alongside Tim Armstrong, Knight Frank’s global head of Occupier Strategy & Solutions, alongside the senior regional leadership, including Philipp Ueberschaer and Richard Proctor, the department’s heads in the EMEA and UK regions respectively. He began his career at DTZ in 1990, joining the European board following the firm’s merger with Cushman & Wakefield in 2015. Most recently, Maddock served as EMEA head of occupier services, where he was responsible for building and scaling the EMEA Occupier Services platform. His has experience in multiple areas of corporate real estate strategy and delivery, including integrated service delivery models, portfolio optimisation, and workplace innovation. Maddock was also previously served as chair of CoreNet UK, the principal occupier association, for a two-year term. William Beardmore-Gray, senior partner and group chair at Knight Frank, said: “James is a highly respected industry leader with an unparalleled network and depth of occupier expertise. His appointment underscores our long-term commitment to building a market-leading Global Occupier platform, which we see […]

The Gym Group opens 24/7 venue at White City Place

13th January 2026

The Gym Group has opened a 24/7 gym in the Westworks building at White City Place in West London. Spanning 12,000 sq ft, the venue is the brand’s 255th location nationwide and features training zones for cardio, strength, and free weights. The gym is one of the brand’s 130 HYROX Training Clubs, which offer training sessions and race-standard equipment. Claire Dawe, head of asset management at Stanhope, said: “Stanhope is delighted to welcome The Gym Group to Westworks. Their accessible, high-quality fitness facilities complement the expanding ecosystem at White City Place, now home to a significant cluster of life sciences and creative businesses. As the campus continues to grow, we regularly engage with our occupiers to understand their evolving needs and providing amenities that support physical wellbeing emerged as a key priority. The arrival of the Gym Group strengthens our commitment to creating a dynamic, inclusive and well-connected environment for our community.” The Gym Group joins a number of office tenants at White City Place including BBC, ITV, Gravity Media, Novartis, Autolus, and L’Oréal.

Leasing agents appointed at recently acquired St Albans retail block

12th January 2026

The new owners of Christopher Place in St Albans have appointed Cushman & Wakefield as leasing agents for the scheme. The 88,000 sq ft city-centre destination features 34 retail units and a car park, with plans currently underway to transform it into a hub for affordable luxury shopping with a dining experience. Cushman & Wakefield said it is ready to drive forward a series of targeted initiatives to enhance the estate, and establish Christopher Place as a prime destination for shoppers and diners. This comes after the scheme was acquired by a joint venture between Peterborough Capital and George Capital from Legal & General last year. Under the terms of the joint venture, George Capital will lead the asset management of Christopher Place.

Leisure operator signs for 20,000 sq ft at Livingston Designer Outlet

12th January 2026

Indoor adventure park operator Flip Out is set to join Livingston Designer Outlet after signing for a 20,000 sq ft space at the scheme. The new venue will be Flip Out’s second location in Scotland, featuring a range of activities including trampolining, ‘Ninja Tag’, inflatables, soft play, a roller rink, as well as party rooms and a diner. The arrival of Flip Out marks the latest step in the ongoing evolution of Livingston Designer Outlet. The venue will add to the scheme’s existing leisure line-up which includes a cinema, and join further openings such as Hamilton & Brown. Nicky Lovell, head of outlets and business development at Global Mutual, said: “Flip Out’s arrival represents a significant milestone in our repositioning of Livingston Designer Outlet. Our vision is to create a destination that goes beyond retail, blending shopping with leisure and dining to deliver a best-in-class experience that stands out across the region.”

RLAM completes pair of pre-lets on London’s Bond Street

12th January 2026

Royal London Asset Management (RLAM) has completed two pre-lets to Peter Millar and Dunhill on London’s Bond Street. Luxury leisure and performance wear brand Peter Millar is set to take space at 111/117 New Bond Street, a flagship unit which is being reconfigured into three smaller stores. This marks a debut outside of the US for Peter Millar and will follow the luxury boutique format of the brand’s Madison Avenue store in New York City. Meanwhile at 128-129 New Bond Street, work is currently underway to accommodate a new Dunhill flagship store, bringing the British heritage menswear brand to the area. Anthony Selwyn, co-head of global retail at Savills, which advised RLAM, said: “Advising on these lettings highlights how exciting this period is for Bond Street, where we’ll see a dramatic transformation of the pitch over the next few years. As brands recognise that the prime pitch is expanding with the delivery of Royal London Asset Management Property’s scheme and Lazari’s Fenwick redevelopment to follow in 2027, these projects are being created to meet the growing demand for exceptional retail.”

British Land’s Simon Carter to step down as CEO

12th January 2026

British Land has announced that its chief executive officer Simon Carter is to step down after five years in the role. Carter – who has worked at British Land for a total of 18 years – will be leaving to take on the role of CEO at P3 Logistics Parks, an investor, manager, and developer of logistics properties in Europe. He initially joined the real estate investment trust in 2004, working in a number of roles across strategy, corporate finance, and treasury before leaving in 2015 to become chief financial officer at Quintain Estates & Development and, later, Logicor. He returned to British Land as CFO in 2018 before being appointed as CEO in 2020. William Rucker, chair of British Land, said: “On behalf of the Board, I want to thank Simon for his significant contribution to British Land. During his 18 years here across two stints he has achieved a huge amount, and as CEO has positioned the business for future success with a very strong management team and an exceptional London office campus and retail park platform. We wish him all the best in his new role at P3.” Simon Carter added: “British Land has been a huge part of my […]

Gloucestershire food store handed £3.6m price tag

9th January 2026

A freehold food store investment in Coleford, Gloucestershire has been placed on the market with an asking price of £3,620,000, reflecting a net initial yield of 7.00%. Situated close to the town’s high street, the store extends to a gross internal area of 21,433 sq ft with demised parking and is let on a recently re-geared lease to The Midcounties Co-operative for an unexpired term of 14.3 years. The asset is located adjacent to a Lidl supermarket, which extends to 16,645 sq ft. The property produces an annual rent of £270,000 per annum, equating to £14.21 per sq ft. The historic market town of Coleford is situated in the centre of the Forest of Dean in the Wye Valley. It is located 20 miles south west of Gloucester, 12 miles north of Chepstow, and 30 miles north of Bristol. Colliers Retail Capital Markets team has been appointed to find a suitable purchaser.

RivingtonHark appoints investment consultant as it grows shopping centre portfolio

9th January 2026

RivingtonHark has appointed Guy Harrison as an investment consultant, as the firm looks to grow its UK shopping centre portfolio. He brings over 30 years’ of experience in retail investment agency, with a focus on shopping centres and town centre retail. Prior to joining RivingtonHark, Harrison held senior roles at Lunson Mitchenall and CBRE, advising a range of clients including institutions, property companies, and public sector bodies. RivingtonHark said it is currently working with its existing investment partners to assemble a £250 million portfolio of shopping centre assets across the UK, which Harrison will look to help deliver. Mark Williams, chair of RivingtonHark, said: “I have known Guy for over 20 years, and his extensive retail investment agency experience, combined with his analytical approach, make him an excellent addition to the RivingtonHark team.” Guy Harrison added: “I am delighted to be joining RivingtonHark at a pivotal time when shopping centres are becoming increasingly attractive as an investment case and the flow of stock is expected to improve. The company’s disciplined investment philosophy and focus on partner outcomes strongly align with my own approach, and I look forward to contributing to its continued success.”

Sephora picks Bristol’s Cabot Circus for first store in the South West

9th January 2026

Sephora is set to open its first store in the south west of England at Hammerson’s Cabot Circus in Bristol. The beauty retailer’s new store will open in the spring, offering a range of products including exclusive ‘Only at Sephora’ brands. This news follows the launch of a flagship 80,000 sq ft M&S store at Cabot Circus last year, and Sephora will arrive shortly after a new ODEON cinema which is due to open in February. The signing marks Hammerson’s second letting to Sephora, following the brand’s opening at Birmingham’s Bullring for its Midlands debut. Paul O’Brien, director of leasing and commercialisation at Hammerson, said: “We’re thrilled to be welcoming Sephora to Cabot Circus and we know customers will be too. Securing this beauty powerhouse underpins Cabot Circus’ leading position in the South-West and underscores the demand for our prime city location. It builds on a series of carefully curated new arrivals across retail, food, drink and leisure. These brands are choosing to grow with us in the heart of Bristol, drawn to our location and catchment across the city and beyond, enabling the best and latest experiences for our customers.”

Northern Ireland outlet centre hails record year

8th January 2026

The Boulevard outlet shopping centre in Banbridge, Northern Ireland has announced that 2025 was its most successful year to date, with record figures in both sales and footfall. The centre finished the year with total sales up by 11.5% year-on-year, while footfall at the scheme increased by 12.3% compared to 2024. Performance at the centre in December was particularly strong, marking the best month in The Boulevard’s history since it opened. Every week in December produced record sales growth, with the final trading week achieving a 24% uplift in sales and a 37% increase in footfall compared to the previous year. Overall, December at The Boulevard saw cumulative growth of 10.5% in sales and 19% in footfall. In 2025, The Boulevard welcomed a number of major brands onsite for their first or only locations. Women’s fashion retailer, Vila opened its only standalone UK store, cosmetics brand BPerfect opened its first ever outlet store, French Connection opened its only Northern Irish store, and Swedish furniture giant IKEA opened its first-ever concept store at the scheme in 2025. They joined existing tenants at the scheme such as Kate Spade New York, Marks and Spencer Outlet, Adidas, Nike, Under Armour, Kurt Geiger, GUESS, and Radley. The...