Retail Property Requirements

Padel Social Club appoints agents to support nationwide expansion

14th October 2024

Padel Social Club has appointed leisure real estate advisory business Stärka as sole agents to support its nationwide expansion. The social padel concept – which launched its first site in Earl’s Court and recently opened at The O2 – is targeting indoor and outdoor spaces ranging between 10,000 sq ft and 40,000 sq ft. The operator takes a flexible approach with its locations and formats, which range from multi-court barns to pop-up or permanent turn-key court installations and activations. Stärka is seeking locations which suit Padel Social Club’s target demographic, and is also looking to secure regional firsts in some of the UK’s most iconic locations. The brand’s concept welcomes players of varied experience, with some venues coming with social and wellness areas, rooftop bars, meeting rooms and co-working spaces, as well as cafés and retail spaces selling specialist equipment and clothing. David Bell, co-founder of Stärka, said: “Our partnership with Padel Social Club has come as a direct result of our previous success in acquiring locations for a number of operators, both established and up-and-coming. Our expertise very much lies in the bespoke and collaborative approach we take with landlords, as well as our ability to truly understand the core nature […]

London-based greengrocers seeks new sites

9th October 2024

London-based independent greengrocers BENS is on the lookout for new sites as it targets further growth in the capital. With a focus on fresh produce, BENS selects fruit and vegetables from local growers and markets, and fulfils local deliveries with its own fleet of electric vehicles. The retailer opened its first store in Notting Hill over a decade ago, and has since opened in Chelsea (Kings Road), Primrose Hill, Westbourne Grove, Holland Park, Selfridges, and most recently in Hampstead Heath. Shops in St John’s Wood, Kensington High Street and Richmond are opening soon. BENS’ target locations include: Richard Wassell of twentyretail has been retained to find suitable sites.

Scamp & Dude appoints agents to support growth

19th September 2024

Scamp & Dude has appointed Four & Co to support its growth as the fashion retailer looks to open around 10 stores a year. The retail and leisure property advisory firm will act on behalf of the retailer to identify and negotiate terms for suitable properties across the UK. Scamp & Dude is seeking units in locations including city centres, affluent market towns, high-quality shopping centres, and popular tourist destinations. Four & Co has been instructed to acquire stores around 1,800 sq ft in size, ideally on the ground floor, with dedicated sales areas of approximately 1,000 sq ft. The retailer already has stores in Battersea, Marlow, Edinburgh, Manchester, Brighton, and Cambridge, and is looking to continue this momentum with Four & Co’s assistance. Target locations include Covent Garden, Richmond, St Albans, Guildford, Glasgow, Manchester, Harrogate, York, Tunbridge Wells, and Sevenoaks. Adam Cohen, partner at Four & Co, said: “We are thrilled to be working with such an inspiring and dynamic brand as Scamp & Dude. Our relationship has already helped the brand secure prime retail spaces and improve terms on existing properties. We are excited to support Scamp & Dude’s ambitious expansion plans across the UK, ensuring they find […]

GAIL’s seeks more sites for UK expansion

18th September 2024

GAIL’s is actively seeking new sites as it looks to continue its expansion across the UK. The bakery chain is considering a variety of different locations, from fast-paced cities to quieter neighbourhoods and market towns. GAIL’s is look for units sized between 1,200 sq ft and 2,000 sq ft at ground floor level but will consider other configurations. The operator has a preference for “interesting” buildings, located on corner plots and near to public transportation links, with space for outdoor seating. Ideal units will also have access from street level and good window frontage. GAIL’s has recently opened new cafés in Bristol, Newbury, Stratford-Upon-Avon, and Chester. Forty Group has been appointed to find suitable locations in London, Essex, Kent, Surrey, Hampshire, and East and West Sussex, whilst Four & Co has been retained to search for units in the Midlands, northern and southwestern England, Berkshire, Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire, and Hertfordshire.

Slim Chickens hungry for more sites as it continues UK expansion

17th September 2024

American restaurant chain Slim Chickens is looking for suitable new sites as it continues to expand across the UK. The operator – which trades from over 55 branches in the UK – is set to open six sites in 2025 and plans to open another 15. Slim Chickens is considering locations across England, Scotland, and Wales, with requirements for both its restaurant and drive-through formats. Suitable units will be located in retail and leisure parks, shopping centres, and high street locations. The operator is looking for units ranging in size between 2,000 and 3,500 sq ft, with a minimum of 1,750 sq ft on the ground floor. Class E planning use is a must, with extraction either in place or able to be installed. Smaller kiosk units in food courts will also be considered, with ideal sites sized around 1,000 sq ft. The operator’s target locations include: Central London Greater London Midlands North West North East Scotland South East Wales McKinnon Nelson – which has been appointed to find suitable units – said the above list is not exhaustive and other locations will be considered.

Swedish game show concept looks to make entry into UK

4th September 2024

A Swedish leisure concept based on TV game shows is looking to make its entry into the UK. On Air offers competitive socialising activities inspired by TV entertainment, hosted in a studio environment with props, graphics, and a dedicated host. The concept’s target audience includes corporate events and private groups such as birthdays celebrations and hen parties. On Air has studios in three Swedish cities and opened a flagship venue in Copenhagen in May. As well as the UK, the operator is also targeting markets in Norway, Finland, and Iceland. London, Manchester, and Birmingham have been named as target locations for the concept, with On Air seeking units ranging between 2,700 sq ft and 5,500 sq ft in size. Buildings with the majority of space at basement level will be considered ideal. The operator has a preference for environments with a high-density of offices and leisure pitches with close proximity to transport hubs. Knight Frank has been appointed to find suitable sites in the UK.

Bill’s lays out restaurant requirements following agent appointment

2nd September 2024

Bill’s has laid out its requirements for new sites, as the restaurant chain looks to expand on its 40-strong estate. The operator is seeking units with a minimum footprint of 3,000 sq ft with a preference for sites with outside seating. Bill’s is also seeking “prominent and beautiful” buildings, with extraction required at suitable locations. The chain’s priority list of locations includes: Central London London neighbourhoods: Other UK locations: This comes after Bill’s appointed Savills to advise on its nationwide expansion plans. The operator successfully trialed a new café and bar concept earlier this year in Newbury and St Albans, and has two new locations set to open later this year in Milton Keynes and Street, Somerset. Bill’s is also currently developing its pipeline for 2025 and beyond, including both its café and bar concept as well as its existing restaurant format.

KLM appointed to support American QSR brand’s UK rollout

11th July 2024

Hospitality investment firm Azzurri has appointed KLM Real Estate to support the UK rollout of US quick service restaurant (QSR) brand Dave’s Hot Chicken. Founded in 2017, Dave’s Hot Chicken operates over 200 sites globally, and has now signed a franchise agreement with Azzurri to open in the UK, with a debut location set to open in London later this year. The brand is backed by big celebrity names such as Drake, Samuel L Jackson, and Usher, and is one of the fastest-growing restaurant brands in the US and on social media. Oli Marcroft, head of leisure at KLM Real Estate, said: ‘We are really excited to help Dave’s (Hot Chicken) to launch in the UK, having had the pleasure of experiencing their restaurants in LA earlier this year, we can’t wait to see the magic arrive in London” KLM Real Estate is initially looking for restaurants in Central London with a footprint of 2,000-3,000 sq ft.

Majestic Wine has taste for expansion as agent appointed

10th July 2024

Majestic Wine has appointed Jackson Criss as sole retained agent to support its expansion across the UK. The wine retailer – which currently has over 200 stores across the UK – has identified a pipeline of 100 new potential locations and is targeting a minimum of 12 new sites a year going forward. Jackson Criss will be assisting Majestic Wine in finding prominent sites spanning between 2,500 sq ft and 5,000 sq ft with dedicated parking in roadside, retail park, and edge of high street locations. The retailer is also renewing its focus on inner London, where it will be rolling out a new small format store after successful trials in Crouch End and Harpenden. These stores may be as small as 1,500 sq ft and do not require dedicated parking if there is good nearby availability. John Colley, Majestic Wine CEO, said: “Experiential, bricks-and-mortar retailing is at the heart of what we do at Majestic, and we are committed to opening up to one new store per month during the coming years to help us reach even more customers across the UK. “In addition to the new stores already in our pipeline for this year, we have identified more […]

Aldi unveils updated list of priority locations

26th June 2024

Aldi has unveiled its updated list of priority locations, as the retailer aims to hit its long-term target of 1,500 UK stores. Last month, the supermarket retailer asked members of the public to get in touch to highlight where they felt Aldi stores were needed the most. The retailer said it had received thousands of requests, and has since reviewed its list of priority locations for UK stores. The areas where Aldi is now targeting new openings include: The retailer – which currently operates over 1,020 stores in the UK – has also identified further locations in the UK where it believes there is demand for an Aldi store. This includes over 100 locations within the M25 and an additional 100 in the wider South East. Jonathan Neale, managing director of national real estate at Aldi UK, said: “We want to make high quality food accessible to all, but we can’t do that while there are still some towns and areas that either don’t have an Aldi or have capacity for additional stores. “We recognise there is huge demand in certain regions for more stores, which is why we decided to get the public’s input on our latest list of priority locations....

EG On The Move appoints agents as it targets 120 roadside sites

17th June 2024

EG On The Move Property, the fuel and premium brand foodservice and grocery retailer, has appointed Colliers as its retained agents, as the group looks to acquire over 120 new sites over the next three years. Colliers will work with the group to acquire properties for in-line, petrol forecourt, food service, and convenience retail development. The requirement will focus on acquiring roadside and retail properties for the brands that EG On The Move will be working with. For roadside properties, the focus is on existing freehold and leasehold sites between 0.35 acres and 10 acres, as well as new development locations with high amounts of vehicle traffic or within densely populated areas. Priority locations include A-road sites, retail parks, and major junctions on trunk roads. New roadside developments where retailers can be placed alongside services such as EV charging will also be considered. In retail destinations, including both high streets and shopping centres, the group is seeking units up to 1,500 sq ft in size in close proximity to student populations, office workers, transport hubs, and nighttime economy. Neil Findlay, development director at EG On The Move Property, said: “We’re excited to be working with Colliers as we look to […]

Lidl to open hundreds of stores across the country

1st May 2024

Lidl has announced plans to open hundreds of stores across the country, as the supermarket retailer celebrates 30 years of trading in the UK. Over the coming months, Lidl is set to welcome shoppers to new stores in cities such as Bristol, Birmingham, and Berwick, Scotland. In London alone, the retailer will be opening stores in Wandsworth, Fulham, Hoxton, and Canning Town. This follows a year of significant investment into Lidl’s infrastructure, during which the retailer opened its largest-ever warehouse in Luton. It has also completed an extension to its Welsh distribution centre in Bridgend, as well as made significant progress with its Belvedere warehouse expansion which, upon completion, will result in its size and capacity being doubled. The announcement comes as Lidl publishes its list of target locations for potential new stores, with the discounter eyeing major growth in cities such as Edinburgh, Leeds, Liverpool, and London, as well as smaller towns. Richard Taylor, Lidl GB chief development officer, said: “Having fortified our infrastructure with significant investments like Luton, which is the largest warehouse in the Lidl world, we’re proud to have achieved record market share this month. We have also been the fastest growing bricks and mortar supermarket for...