We are Hiring!

We are looking to hire an enthusiastic, hard-working and ambitious real estate professional to join our business and help with our expanding workbook of leasing great spaces and advising exciting brands on their expansion plans across the UK. You will have a passion for the retail and leisure sectors, be tenacious and energetic, having the ability to use your initiative in order to become an important member of our team. Preferably you will have retail and / or agency experience being newly qualified or with up to 5 years post qualification experience.

If you are interested please contact Andrew Shepherd for further information.

Bubbling up in Newcastle

AS Retail are excited to announce that their clients Gong Cha have opened their 4th UK site in Newcastle.

Gong Cha are the world leading Bubbletea brand with over 1,500 stores globally and AS Retail have advised them on their entry and expansion in the UK.

The Newcastle store is strategically located on Haymarket opposite the University and adjacent to both the Metro and bus stations and, very close to the prime shopping pitches of Northumberland Street and Eldon Square Shopping Centre. The store is on a highly prominent corner providing 717 sq ft of sales space and basement storage.

Gong Cha have two existing stores in Manchester and one in Liverpool with three more progressing through legals for Summer opening including our first London store. We are keen to secure further sites in university cities and major markets nationwide and we are looking for space between 300 – 1,200 sq ft in prime, high street, shopping centres, transport hubs and office areas.

If you have any properties you feel might be suitable please contact Andrew Shepherd or Ellie Oldershaw and, for further information on Gong Cha, please see www.gong-cha.co.uk

Flagship Store to let in Truro

AS Retail are delighted to have been appointed to let the former Next at Unit 1, 100-104 Pydar Street, Truro.

Truro is the only cathedral city parish in Cornwall, it is rich in history, abundant with local culture and stunning architecture. It offers a fantastic wide range of high street chains, independent shops, restaurants and coffee shops plus indoor and outdoor markets and the white and green striped stalls of the Truro Farmers Market on Lemon Quay, which adds to the vibrancy of the city.

The subject unit sits in a highly prominent position on prime Pydar Street with a return frontage onto Union Place. Sitting close to the likes of TK Maxx, New Look, Superdry and Boots, the location benefits from excellent footfall which is enhanced by the presence of the 466 space multi-storey car park sitting at the rear which ensures consistent footfall delivery to the location throughout the day.

The unit is arranged over two large floor plates and benefits from excellent servicing. The property would suit retail, catering, leisure as well as other uses and there is the potential to extend the property to provide for a First Floor sales area up to approximately 15,000 sq (1,394 sq m) if required.

For further information please contact Andrew Shepherd at AS Retail to discuss this opportunity.

Egham Development Instruction

AS Retail are delighted to have been appointed as leasing agent on behalf of Runnymede Borough Council in the leasing of the new Egham Gateway West development in Egham, Surrey.

The development will feature an Everyman Cinema, Budgens supermarket and four commercial units within a new streetscaped environment sitting alongside a number of private and student dwellings. The highly prominent site sits on Station Road at the west end of the High Street linking back to Church Road (the inner ring road).

The buildings are being constructed at pace with the scheme opening scheduled for autumn this year.

Please contact Andrew Shepherd or Ellie Oldershaw for further information on the commercial units and to discuss your requirements.

Elem Hair Salon Requirement

AS Retail are delighted to be working with Elem Hair to assist with their 2021 & 2022 UK roll-out.

With two salons in Cambridge and a third in Christchurch, Dorset which opened in 2020, they are now eager to expand their portfolio further and create a chain of stunning salons throughout the UK.  Justin Evans, Co-Founder of Elem Hair commented, “Lisa and I launched our first Elem Hair salon in April 2013 and the plan to become the biggest salon group in the UK has never left our sight.”

Our initial search areas are South East, Greater London, East Midlands or East Anglia (approximately 2 hours from Cambridge) with the following specific unit criteria:

Size: 800 – 2,000 sq ft, single floor premises preferred but two levels considered.

Location: Shopping centre, retail parks or high street locations with good footfall.

Spec: Prefer well fitted ex-hair, beauty or fashion stores. Shell specifications considered.

For further information, please contact Ellie Oldershaw to discuss any opportunities that might suit.

Terra Brazil Sambas into Addlestone

AS Retail are thrilled to announce that regional Brazilian restaurant, Terra Brazil, have signed to take 2,750 sq ft of space and are commencing fit out works at Addlestone One.

Terra Brazil have one existing restaurant in Watford and will be an exciting addition to the line-up. Sitting adjacent to the entrance to The Light Cinema and opposite Smith & Western, close to Esquires, Nandos and the new Anytime Fitness. This mixed use development, sitting within the affluent catchment area of Surrey, also contains over 200 dwellings and more than 370 dedicated car parking spaces.

We have a few retail, catering or leisure units remaining to complete the development and if this scheme may be of further interest to your clients then please do not hesitate to contact Charmi Patel or Andrew Shepherd to discuss availability.

Jetts ready to take off in Brixton

Acting on behalf of our clients Jetts Fitness, AS Retail are excited to announce that we have acquired a new 10 year lease on 5,200 sq ft of space at 120 Brixton Hill, London, SW2.

The stunning fit out has been completed and, as soon as restrictions are lifted, the new members can begin working out using the state-of-the-art gym equipment, a functional training zone plus the added bonus of outdoor training space. The club will have individual private changing facilities and skilled personal trainers.

This is Jetts’ 3rd site in London following studios in Clapham and Colliers Wood and the 10th club in the UK. Jetts are a major international fitness brand and we have more new acquisitions progressing for 2021 openings.

AS Retail are still actively looking for more sites of between 5,000 – 8,000 sq ft with minimum floor to ceiling height of 2.7m.  Areas of particular interest are Greater London & South East England including a new focus on Essex. Please contact Andrew Shepherd or Ellie Oldershaw if you have anything you feel might be suitable.

Gloria Jean’s Coffees 2021 Requirement

AS Retail have been instructed by the Gloria Jean’s Coffees franchise partner for the Midlands to assist with their 2021 roll-out expansion across the region.

The brand operates over 1,000 stores in over 40 markets globally and are now making their long-awaited entry into the UK with store openings in Scotland, Newcastle and Sutton and more planned shortly.

We are looking for sites meeting the following criteria:

Particular areas of interest:  West / East Midlands (other areas considered)
Size: 1,000 – 2,000 sq ft, ideally with external seating
Location: High Street / Shopping Centres (inline stores or mall cafes) / Transport Hubs / Office Areas

Please contact Andrew Shepherd to discuss any opportunities that might suit.

Addlestone welcomes Anytime Fitness

AS Retail are delighted to welcome Anytime Fitness to Addlestone One.

Anytime have taken a new 10 year lease for a new studio in nearly 6,000 sq ft of space replacing the former Achieve Fitness at the Garfield Road end of the development.

Addlestone One is a mixed use development sitting within the very affluent catchment area between Weybridge and Chertsey and boasts The Light Cinema, Nandos, Waitrose and Premier Inn alongside Holland & Barrett, Esquires Coffee and Smith & Western. The scheme also contains over 200 new dwellings, more than 370 dedicated car parking spaces and the Runnymede Council offices which pre-covid housed over 300 council employees.

Watch this space for more announcements on new openings soon but there remains various opportunities for retail, catering, leisure and service sector occupiers throughout the scheme so please contact either Andrew Shepherd or Charmi Patel who would welcome a conversation with you about your requirements.

CBRE acted for Anytime Fitness.

Cards Direct fly into Horsham

On behalf of Cards Direct, AS Retail are pleased to announce the opening of their new store which is located within Swan Walk, Horsham. Being the former Clintons store on prime pitch within the scheme the unit provides for around 1,100 sq ft clear sales plus ancillary storage space. With Christmas just around the corner and all retail being able to open again after the second lockdown a busy month ahead is expected.

Andrew Shepherd, Director as AS Retail said “Our clients Cards Direct continue to grow their portfolio with two new units acquired since the Summer taking the total number of stores to 36. We have a further three acquisitions progressing for an early 2021 handover and appetite for more as the year progresses.”

If you have anything you feel might be suitable for Cards Direct then please contact Andrew Shepherd or Ellie Oldershaw with the details.