Pret A Manger continues expansion drive with Leeds opening

Pret A Manger has agreed to take space at The Springs retail and leisure centre at Thorpe Park in Leeds on a 10-year lease.

The café operator will take a 2,261 sq ft unit adjacent to Caffé Nero and opposite JD Sports.

Pret A Manger, which operates over 550 stores in five countries, announced a strategy in 2021 to open over 200 UK stores by 2023 and double the size of its business in five years.

Arriving at The Springs represents one of Pret A Manger’s first ventures into an out-of-town space in the UK.

The news comes after the recent opening of Loungers at the Leeds scheme, which signed a 15-year lease to take occupation of a 4,080 sq ft unit. Other retailers who have recently joined The Springs include Dunelm, Betty Loves Candles, and Elan Laser Clinics.

Rachel Vickers, senior commercial manager at Scarborough Group International, the developer and asset manager of The Springs and Thorpe Park Leeds, said:

“The Springs continues to perform exceptionally well as a destination, attracting robust footfall due to its location and accessibility. The new East Leeds Orbital Route has given a tremendous boost to this alongside our free car parking, and the forthcoming railway station as well as new housing development will only help to attract more strong brands for our community.”