RETAIL AND LEISURE
Following the success of both their physical stores and their online presence Welsh Jewellery brand Clogau Gold has unveiled plans for four new sites in 2020 that will take their portfolio to 15 shops across Wales and England.
Thanks to the acquisition of one of the largest garage chains in the UK, Halfords now have locations within a 15-minute drive of over half of all UK households. The 60 strong McConechy garage chain operates in Scotland and the North of England employing around 300 staff.
As Barburrito exits two London sites to concentrate on its airport expansion, their 700 sq ft Broadway Shopping Centre ex-site in Hammersmith has seen quick-service brand Chopstix open and the Cowcross Street site in Farringdon has welcomed Japanese concept Buy & Bite.
Following a two-year £5m restoration by landlord Grosvenor, the historic St Mark’s church in Mayfair has seen the first of three new London sites by food market Mercato Metropolitano with two more expected to open in the next six months. Offering food stalls, a rooftop terrace and basement crypt that has been transformed to host a wine cellar, microbrewery, cookery classes and events.
Fast food retailer German Doner Kebab have revealed plans to establish a presence in Liverpool with their sights on six restaurants in the city the first of which is expected to open in Q2 2020. Launched in Berlin in 1989 GDK has opened 36 outlets over the past two years across Sweden, Dubai, Abu-Dhabi, Oman and Bahrain and sees the Liverpool opening as part of a larger expansion framework.
PROPERTY
Blackpool Council has acquired The Houndshill shopping centre; the largest shopping centre on the Fylde Coast, for £47.6m. The centre, that went into receivership earlier this year, sits in the middle of Blackpool town centre and has a 770-space multi-storey car park. The council said that the purchase will ‘catalyse the regeneration of the town centre’.
CVAS AND ADMINISTRATIONS
Nursery retailer Mamas & Papas has closed six stores through a pre-pack administration as its online and wholesale channels grow. The stores that have closed are: Aberdeen; Preston; Milton Keynes; Lincoln; Leamington and Fareham resulting in 73 staff members being made redundant as well as leaving 54 head office jobs also at risk. Bluegem Capital who bought the business in 2014 have bought back the assets via the deal giving them back control. Around 25 locations will remain open.
RETAIL PARK AND SHOPPING CENTRE OPENINGS
The Lexicon in Bracknell has signed: Phase Eight who will take a 1,822 sq ft space; Silentnight which has signed a 5-year lease for a 1,798 sq ft unit; The Works which has signed a 5-year lease for a 2,906 sq ft unit and PureGym which will be opening a 12,066 sq ft unit. They will also be welcoming LaplandUK over the festive period with a 3,533 sq ft immersive retail store.
White Rose Shopping Centre in Leeds has opened the city’s newest Leeds United Club Store and will see escape room specialist The Escapologist opening this month with Wrapchic hot on their heels in the coming weeks.
McArthurGlen’s Ashford Designer Outlet in Kent has opened the £90m 100,000 sq ft extension and welcomed Coach, Sandro, Maje, Ugg, Joules, Dr Martens, Dune, Gant, Under Armour, Reiss and Karl Lagerfeld that have already opened and the likes of Puma, Armani, Bedeck, Haribo, Tempur and Kate Spade which are all expected to be open before the end of the year.
AND IN OTHER NEWS...
Supermarket chain Morrisons are aiming to make all packaging recyclable, reusable or compostable by 2025 with the first step removing black plastic from own-brand packaging.
Retailers and shopping destinations supported Purple Tuesday yesterday aiming to improve the customer experience for disabled people. Marks and Spencer, Sainsbury’s and intu and The Crown Estate centres all participated.
Deliveroo have launched a click and collect option that allows customers to avoid paying delivery fees. The service which is called 'Pickup' is available in 13 cities from 700 restaurants.
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