Retail Property News

Peppa Pig Market leads pair of openings at Metrocentre’s Green Mall

10th December 2025

Metrocentre in Gateshead has welcomed the arrival of Peppa Pig Market and Søstrene Grene, which have opened their doors within the scheme’s Green Mall. Occupying a 1,410 sq ft space in the Upper Green Mall, adjacent to Next, Peppa Pig Market offers a range of licensed toys, merchandise, and lifestyle products based on the hit children’s TV show. The opening comes as Metrocentre prepares to welcome the 19,000 sq ft Peppa Pig: Surprise Party experience, which is due to open in Spring 2026. Meanwhile, Søstrene Grene has opened a 5,167 sq ft store in the Lower Green Mall. The Danish lifestyle and homewares retailer’s new space features a selection of Scandinavian-inspired products, small furniture, and kitchenware. Søstrene Grene adds to a lineup of retailers in the Green Mall that includes ProCook, Next, and Victoria’s Secret. The mall’s retail offer has evolved over the year, with Peppa Pig Market and Søstrene Grene joining a refurbished Accessorize and a relocated Swatch store. East-Asian inspired lifestyle brand KENJI is also set to make its regional debut in March. Ben Cox, director at Sovereign Centros from CBRE, asset manager of Metrocentre, said: “Peppa Pig Market and Søstrene Grene are fantastic new additions to Green Mall, […]

McMullen RE makes four senior hires

9th December 2025

Retail and leisure advisory firm McMullen Real Estate has made four new senior hires to support its expansion across the UK and Ireland. Joining the firms leasing team as directors are Jessica Short and Gerry Gillingham. Short joins from Colliers, where she spent 10 years in retail and leisure leasing specialising in shopping centres and designer outlet centres. She has advised major schemes across the UK, as well as retailers such as Santander, Vodafone, and Superdrug. Gillingham has 35 years’ of experience acquiring UK land for corporates, occupiers, and developers, and will continue to do so in his new role at McMullen RE. Over his career, he was worked at the likes of Knight Frank, CBRE, and Montagu Evans. McMullen RE has also made a pair of hires in the capital markets and investments team. Drew Moore has been appointed as director, having previously worked at JLL, CBRE and most recently Harvey Spack Field. Moore will be joined by Sophie France as associate director, who brings six years’ retail leasing and investment experience, specialising in out-of-town retail and foodstore transactions for funds, institutions, private investors and owner-occupiers. She has also worked with notable UK landlords including Savills IM, AEW, Abrdn,...

Frasers Group acquires Wiltshire outlet shopping centre

9th December 2025

Frasers Group has continued its acquisition spree with the purchase of Swindon Designer Outlet in Wiltshire. The outlet shopping centre, which opened in 1997, extends to 250,000 sq ft and attracts more than three million visitors annually. The scheme is home to retailers and brands such as Nike, Adidas, BOSS, Calvin Klein, Crocs, and Tommy Hilfiger. The announcement comes just a month after Frasers Group’s acquisition of Braehead Shopping Centre in Glasgow. Earlier this year, the group had also snapped up Waterfront Retail Park in Greenock, Scotland. Michael Murray, CEO of Frasers Group, said: “Physical retail is central to our Elevation Strategy and investing in Swindon – one of the UK’s top five outlets by footfall – strengthens our position as both retailer and landlord. This acquisition reinforces our property strategy and unlocks new opportunities for our brands and our partners.” CBRE advised Frasers Group.

GCW promotes within owner team

9th December 2025

Property consultancy GCW has promoted Jack Suiter to the position of senior surveyor within its owner team. Suiter joined GCW in May 2024, and has recently passed his Assessment of Professional Competence. Within the firm’s 13-strong owner team, he has advised clients such as AEW, Aviva, Berkeley, CBRE IM, Crosstree, L&G Investment Management, and Sovereign Centros from CBRE. Nick Warr, head of GCW’s owner team, said: “Jack has made a significant contribution of our business since joining us less than two years ago and we are delighted to recognise his achievements with this well-earned promotion.”

Affinity Lancashire reaches 100% occupancy

8th December 2025

Affinity Lancashire is celebrating a landmark year which has seen the outlet shopping centre reach 100% occupancy. The outlet destination is now fully let following the arrival of new tenant Castore. This follows a £2m capital investment programme focused on reconfiguring four units, which has enabled the centre to secure the performance sportswear brand. This investment has also supported strong footfall growth, with a 5% increase in the year-to-date. In recognition of its recent performance, Affinity Lancashire has received multiple accolades, including the Sceptre Award for Marketing Manager of the Year awarded to Kate Pollard, as well as two wins at the Wyre Business Awards for Social Media and Tourism Business of the Year. Loraine Atkin, centre manager at Affinity Lancashire, said: “This has been an exceptional year for Affinity Lancashire, and I am incredibly proud of what our team and community have achieved together. From our leasing strategy to our events, it is brilliant to see the developments afoot across the centre. We are excited to keep building momentum and delivering even more reasons for people to visit and enjoy Affinity Lancashire in the months ahead.”  James Kevill, asset manager at Global Mutual, added: “Affinity Lancashire has had a standout year, […]

M Core cuts voids at Glasgow’s Princes Square from 17 to one in under a year

8th December 2025

Voids at Princes Square in Glasgow have fallen from 17 to one in under a year following its acquisition by property collective M Core. M Core said this progress reflects a wider repositioning strategy focused on attracting design-led, values-driven brands and restoring the centre’s status as a distinctive retail and dining destination in the heart of the city. Since acquiring the scheme last year, M Core has introduced a new leasing strategy centred on premium fashion, contemporary dining, independent operators, and all-day experiences. The most recent opening is Anthropologie, which has launched a 4,465 sq ft store, while Princes Square has also welcomed wine bar Cuvée, which has opened its fourth venue in Units 6–9. In the summer, The Delphine opened in Units 1–2, taking 3,051 sq ft on a 21-year lease and adding to the centre’s dining community. This was followed by the launch of all-day dining concept Café 1780 in Unit C, which took at 15-year lease. The latest signing at Princes Square is ethical fashion brand Omnes, which has taken 4,622 sq ft at Unit 54. Savills acted for the landlord and the tenant in this deal. Alex Williams, head of Scotland at LCP UK, part of...

Outlet Shopping at The O2 ends year with flurry of new deals

8th December 2025

Outlet Shopping at The O2 has capped off 2025 with the announcement of a flurry of leasing deals. Making its debut in an outlet centre is Lovisa, which has signed for a 1,722 sq ft unit adjacent to Dune London and Kurt Geiger. The store will offer the jewellery brand’s full range of necklaces, earrings, and rings, and also offer piercing services. Also making its outlet debut is T.M. Lewin. The British heritage brand will expand the menswear offer at The O2, taking a 1,827 sq ft space. Meanwhile, The Entertainer has opened its first outlet store in London in a 2,121 sq ft store. The toy and games store stocks a range of brands including LEGO, Barbie, Disney, and Nintendo. The scheme has also welcomed a ‘roboshop’ from art toy retailer POP MART, sitting adjacent to Mint Café. The retailer has brought its vending machine concept to an outlet for the first time, adding a point of difference that looks to accommodate the increased demand for and success of the ‘blind box’ model. Finally, long-standing tenant New Balance is reinvesting in its store at The O2, upsizing into a 3,129 sq ft unit which will feature the footwear retailer’s […]

Everlast picks Trafford Palazzo to open 28,000 sq ft gym

5th December 2025

Trafford Palazzo in Manchester has secured a major letting with Everlast Gyms+, which has taken a 28,000 sq ft unit at the shopping and leisure destination. Set to open in early 2026, Everlast Gyms+ Trafford Palazzo will feature functional and group training zones with Nautilus gym equipment covering cardio, pin and plate loaded machines, as well as free weights. Everlast Gyms+ at Trafford Palazzo will also feature a Myprotein Kitchen, serving coffees, smoothies, and snacks for pre and post workout. Dan Summerson, managing director at Everlast Gyms, said: “Trafford Palazzo is an exciting step forward for Everlast Gyms. With this opening, we’re delivering one of our most comprehensive gym concepts yet, setting a new benchmark for accessible, high-quality fitness and wellbeing in the Greater Manchester region.” Mark Whittaker, managing director at Peel Retail & Leisure, added: “Everlast Gyms+ is a significant signing for Trafford Palazzo and strengthens our position to become the go-to destination for unique leading retail and leisure experiences in the North-West. Their next-generation fitness concept not only elevates our sport and wellness offer but also complements leading tenants such as Sports Direct. Across TraffordCity, momentum is building, and Everlast Gyms+ joins Trafford Palazzo at a pivotal moment, […]

Mago Capital acquires prominent Kensington High St retail parade

5th December 2025

Mago Capital, together with Eastway Estates, the investment arm of Prideview Group, has acquired 129-137 Kensington High Street, a prominent retail parade in West London. The asset is fully let to five retailers including Rituals, Philip Morris International, Läderach, Vodafone, and Paris Baguette, alongside 20 residential flats above. The commercial element was sold with a weighted average unexpired lease term of 6.37 years. Situated opposite the Kensington Arcade and in close proximity to High Street Kensington station, the parade benefits from high levels of footfall and an affluent catchment. The asset was marketed by Green & Partners on behalf of DTZ IM with an asking price of £26.65m. Colliers’ One London team acted for Mago Capital. This transaction brings the valuation of Mago Capital’s London portfolio to approximately £500 million, following the group’s acquisition of Notting Hill Gate Estate in October. Mago Capital, the board of which includes Eastway Estates, has completed over £200m of central London deals in 2025 and is targeting up to £1bn in further investments over the next 12–24 months. Avi Rosenfield, associate director in the One London team at Colliers, said: “This trophy block on Kensington High Street is an iconic piece of London real estate, […]

Former Chesterfield M&S gets new lease of life with Tesco signing

5th December 2025

Tesco is set to open a new store on Chesterfield High Street after signing as the new tenant at the former Marks & Spencer building. The building, located at 2-8 High Street, has been vacant since M&S relocated to Ravenside Retail Park in 2022 after decades of trading. The ground floor has since been split into three units, with the central 5,000 sq ft space now set to accommodate a Tesco Express store. The supermarket retailer is expected to open at the end of January 2026, with Tesco taking a 15-year lease. Commercial property agency FHP Property Consultants brokered the deal on behalf of the landlord, ALB Group, which has already begun plans to rejuvenate the property ready to hand over to Tesco. The group is also creating two additional ground floor retail units of similar size within the same block, which it said are already attracting strong interest from national and regional occupiers. Arran Bailey, managing director for ALB Group, said: “This deal is another example of our commitment to breathing new life into key town and city centres across the UK. The former M&S site is in a prime location, and securing Tesco is a huge vote of confidence in Chesterfield’s high street. We’re delighted to play a part in supporting local employment...

Redevco brings 25,000 sq ft PUMA flagship to Oxford Street

4th December 2025

Redevco has welcomed PUMA to London’s Oxford Street, with the global sportswear brand opening within the transformed ONE James Street building. Spanning 25,000 sq ft, the new space is the retailer’s largest flagship store in Europe, and features PUMA’s NITRO running shoes, its football boot range, as well as its current range of lifestyle products. At ONE James Street, Redevco has looked to rebalanced the mix of uses at the building, reducing retail space and expanding office space to meet growing demand for premium workplace environments. The future-proofed workspaces were designed to champion sustainability and wellbeing. Occupiers also benefit from a biophilic roof terrace and pavilion, a business lounge, bookable meeting rooms, a gym, and secure cycle storage. Deborah Green, head of asset and transaction management at Redevco UK, said: “The opening of PUMA’s flagship at ONE James Street underscores the building’s position as one of London’s premier retail destinations. Welcoming such an iconic global brand is a milestone that reflects our vision to create vibrant, sustainable urban spaces that attract leading names and elevate the West End experience.”

Savills adds director to EMEA retail advisory team

4th December 2025

Savills has appointed David Close as director of EMEA (Europe, Middle East, and Africa) retail tenant representation. He brings over 20 years of experience advising global brands, and joins from CBRE’s retail tenant advisory team. Over the past two decades, he has worked with a range of international retail brands from Asia, North America, and Europe, advising on their expansion strategies across the EMEA region. He has worked on securing high-profile locations in many of the world’s most prestigious retail streets — including London’s Regent Street, the Champs-Élysées in Paris, Paseo de Gracia in Barcelona, Via Vittorio Emanuele II in Milan, and Calle Serrano in Madrid. In his new role at Savills, Close will focus on advising global retail brands on their growth in key prime EMEA cities. He takes up the position in December. Sam Foyle, co-head of prime global retail at Savills, said: “David’s deep-rooted understanding of the European retail landscape, combined with a modern, people-first approach to retailers, aligns seamlessly with our boutique advisory model. Having known David for many years, I’ve consistently admired his ability to navigate market nuances. His insight and experience will be invaluable as we continue to grow with agility, purpose and a commitment...