Month: January 2025

AS Retail are pleased to announce that our clients BoConcept have opened a new showroom in Exeter, coming quickly after the recent opening in Cheltenham.

Working with the regional franchise partner who we have represented for many years, we are thrilled to have satisfied this long-standing requirement by taking Unit 5 at Dart Business Park, adjacent to various complimentary brands.

The property has a sales areas of circa 3,000 sq ft of plus warehouse space and sits directly opposite Darts Farm Village, just to the South East of Exeter City Centre, where brands such as AGA and Fired Earth are located.

BoConcept are the global leader in furniture and lifestyle design who now trade from over 20 showrooms in the UK and in excess of 300 units in 60 markets worldwide.

Andrew Shepherd, Director of AS Retail who advised BoConcept on the acquisition commented “Over the last few years we have thoroughly searched the Exeter market for the right property for BoConcept and are delighted that we have secured this unit in the face of fierce competition.”

The Landlord was represented by Stratton Creber Commercial.

Following a successful 2024, our clients Jetts are keen to expand further this year and next. The new Leeds Colton club will be opening shortly with fit out works on the Burnt Oak (London) studio commencing next month. We have other deals progressing on regional sites but are keen to further build our Greater London network which already includes Brixton, Clapham, Hammersmith, Wandsworth and Colliers Wood.

Please contact myself, Ollie Haxton or Georgina Massey at AS Retail with anything within the M25 (Zones 2-6 ideal) or indeed in the Home Counties, that you think might work between 4,000 – 12,000 sq ft – we can be quite flexible on the nature of property we look at as each location is designed bespoke. We can consider ground floors, basements (or split level spaces), Retail Parks, showrooms, retail units, new developments, trade counters, warehouse/industrial spaces, redundant offices and even former social centres or churches – all sorts.

Get in touch!

AS Retail have successfully negotiated a variety of retail deals for an Institutional Investor in the Cathedral City of Truro.

Acting on behalf of the landlord over the past few years, AS Retail have advised on the five units at 100 Pydar Street. Totalling c. 25,000 sq ft this block sits in a strong trading location on the principal shopping street; it is now fully let to excellent tenants with a robust lease profile.

Lease re-gears have been concluded with Sharps, the leading Bedroom and furniture brand, and Nationwide Building Society who entered into a reversionary lease. New 5 year leases without break options have been negotiated with HMV and Sports Direct to secure their occupation and finally, after a lengthy marketing campaign where other deals have been agreed but aborted, the former Next at Unit 1, totalling circa 16,000 sq ft over ground and second floors, has been successfully let to Poundstretcher who are currently fitting out.

Andrew Shepherd, Director at AS Retail who advised the landlord on all the transactions commented ‘We were asked to assist by this major landlord in 2021; over the last five years we’ve worked relentlessly, against a challenging backdrop, to optimise the asset for them. Various connotations of deals have been negotiated with the different occupiers and we are thrilled that Poundstretcher have taken the whole of the former Next store, making the block 100% let. This unit is subject to a highly inflated Rateable Value and in order to make the deal work for both the landlord and the tenant we found a very creative deal structure which, credit to Poundstretcher, they were happy to embrace. We thank them for their efforts in getting the deal done and wish them success with their trading.”

We at AS Retail are currently advising on other similar situations nationwide but please do not hesitate to contact us should you require any assistance on your portfolio.

Local agent Miller Commercial acted jointly with us in the marketing of Unit 1. Mason & Partners acted for Poundstretcher, Green & Partners acted for Sports Direct and LSH acted for Nationwide. HMV and Sharps represented themselves.