July saw strong retail sales despite spells of bad weather impacting growth rates. According to the BRC-KPMG Retail Sales Monitor, total sales increased 6.4% in July compared to the same month last year. When compared to the same month in 2019, retail sales grew 9.1%. British Retail Consortium chief executive Helen Dickinson said: “July continued to see strong sales, although growth has started to slow. The lifting of restrictions did not bring the anticipated in-store boost, with the wet weather leaving consumers reluctant to visit shopping destinations.”
Australian fashion retailer Forever New has opened its first UK site in Sheffield’s Meadowhall Shopping Centre. The brand, known for its summer dresses, launched its international website in 19 countries late last year and has partnered with John Lewis, Asos and Next. Managing director Carolyn Mackenzie said: “After seeing great success already in the UK with our concession partners and the launch of our international website in 2020, it’s an exciting new step for the brand and we look forward to welcoming our customers in store at Meadowhall. ”
British jewellery brand Astley Clarke has selected Covent Garden’s Seven Dials for its UK flagship. The store, which will open this autumn, is the formerly online-only retailer’s first physical store outside of concessions at Selfridges and Liberty. CEO Scott Thomson said: “Despite a large international following Astley Clarke has always felt a strong connection to London, and we were therefore very selective when searching for a prime location within the heart of the city to match our values and offering. This is just the beginning of our bricks and mortar story as a brand, and we look forward to launching our flagship store.”
UK governments have announced the latest changes to local COVID-19 restrictions and government aid, with implications for the leisure industry. On Saturday, Wales moved to Alert Level Zero, dropping almost all remaining restrictions. All legal limits on the number of people who can meet indoors and outdoors have been lifted, nightclubs will be allowed to reopen and face coverings will no longer be a legal requirement in hospitality venues. In Scotland, ‘vertical drinking’ is now permitted at pubs and bars as part of Monday’s lift in restrictions, which also includes the removal of curfews for licensed venues, the reopening of nightclubs and the end of social distancing regulations. The UK Government has partnered with Lloyds to offer the Live Events Reinsurance Scheme, which will support live public events and cover any costs incurred as a result of pandemic-related cancellations.
Edwardian Hotels London’s The Londoner hotel is to launch in Leicester Square next month with six separate F&B concepts. The 350-bedroom development’s restaurant and bar offering is being overseen by former Nobu events and private dining manager Amir Jati, and includes: all-day brasserie Whitcomb’s; champagne and caviar outlet The Stage; rooftop izakaya lounge 8; and pub and gin bar Joshua’s Tavern. Two outlets, private club The Residence and wellness concept Refuel, will only be open to hotel guests.
Grosvenor has approved a new escape room concept at the Liverpool ONE shopping centre with Peaky Blinders-themed rooms. Escape Live’s sixth site will feature two Peaky Blinders rooms, a Sherlock Holmes experience and a Horrible Histories-themed room for families, featuring voiceover by author Terry Deary. Managing director Jas Sodhi said: “Liverpool will become our new flagship and we are hugely excited about it. We have found a fantastic location in the heart of the leisure and hospitality area of Liverpool ONE; a space built 10 years ago but which has never been used, and which has an amazing roof top terrace.”
Regal London has submitted a planning application for a mixed-use development in Wembley. The proposed site would comprise 759 new homes and more than 30,000sq ft of flexible commercial space for retail, leisure and light industrial use. The scheme would be situated in the Wembley Growth Area on the east side of Wembley Stadium on Fulton Road. Regal London hopes to welcome its first occupants in the last quarter of 2025 and complete the project at the beginning of 2027. Nigel Bidwell, partner at architects JTP, said: “Our vision for the site responds to many of London’s current challenges by optimising accessible brown field land… and placing landscape to the fore to promote a nature recovery network for Wembley whilst creating fabulous places for the public to enjoy.
Hammerson plans to transform its urban shopping centres, leaving them with 50% retail space. The company plans to repurpose department stores and redevelop vacant units into homes, offices and hotels. The plans form part of Hammerson’s new growth strategy, which focuses on non-retail opportunities. CEO Rita-Rose Gagné, who joined Hammerson last year, said: “As we emerge from a unique moment in time, I see a pathway to create sustainable value as we transform the business to become more agile and able to anticipate and respond to this change. We own flagship destinations around which we can curate and reshape entire neighbourhoods and city centre spaces for generations to come.”
Trafford Council and Bruntwood Works have revealed plans to transform a former Rackhams building in Altrincham town centre and are inviting locals to participate in the next phase. Bruntwood’s first Pioneer building outside the city centre will combine the firm’s mix of workspace, retail and leisure, supporting Trafford Council’s regeneration of the Stamford Quarter. Bruntwood and Trafford Council are inviting the public to attend drop-in sessions as part of the next phase of the consultation period. Town centre and consumer brands director at Bruntwood Works, Andrea George, said: “We’re confident the transformation of the former Rackhams store will be a gamechanger for the town and prove an attractive proposition for those looking for workspace outside of the city centre, whilst providing a new and much needed amenity that complements the existing operators within Stamford Square.”
The world’s largest udon noodle chain, Marugame Udon, has opened its first European site near London Liverpool Street station; the team behind Berber and Q is to open all-day restaurant Carmel in Queen’s Park this October; Nisha Katona is to launch a London branch of her restaurant chain Mowgli; Adonis nightclub founder Shay Malt has opened restaurant Yes Please in Dalston; Japan Centre is to launch ramen restaurant Panton Yokocho next to its Leicester Square food hall next month; Andi Oliver is to launch Caribbean restaurant Wadadli in Hackney Wick this month; Italian kitchen and brewery brand Doppio Malto is to open its first UK site in Glasgow’s George Square this week.