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AS Retail are excited to announce that BoConcept recently opened their brand new 5,300 sq ft store in St David’s Cardiff, first in Wales!   Alongside their extensive stylish home furnishing ranges the store offers a comprehensive interior design service to make restyling easier and suited to the customer’s individual needs.

The space is located on the Upper Grand Arcade in close proximity to John Lewis and the recently opened Hollister store with more major brands to open in this area of the centre during 2021.

We attach an update to the new stores extensive home furnishing ranges and, for further information on the stores offer, please click here – https://www.boconcept.com/en-gb/stores/find-your-local-store/united-kingdom/wales/boconcept-cardiff

Further information on the transaction can be found via https://www.averpr.com/news-1/2020/12/1/sofa-so-good-st-davids-cardiff-signs-boconcept-as-post-lockdown-deals-continue

Please visit their website https://www.boconcept.com/en-gb for more information.

We are seeking selective other opportunities and if you wish to discuss please contact either Andrew Shepherd or Ellie Oldershaw.

 

We are delighted to announce that the new 50,000 sq ft Sports Direct flagship store has opened at The Cascades Shopping Centre in Portsmouth.

AS Retail advised RPMI Railpen, the owner of The Cascades, in the letting which is one of the largest single regional lettings in the UK this year.

The former BHS store sits at the car park end of the centre close to TK Maxx, Primark, Next and H&M and will act as another anchor store to the scheme. Arranged over two trading levels and basement storage, the store houses the USC, Game Belong and Evans Cycles brands as well the primary Sports Direct format as a significant upsize from their previous home on Commercial Road.

Despite the wider issues in 2020, the addition of Sports Direct completes a solid 12 months at The Cascades which also saw the addition of Deichmann Shoes to the tenant line-up, a relocation of Claire’s Accessories and works to open up the central core to create sightlines, mall commercialisation space and a walkway through from the main mall to the anchor stores.

Andrew Shepherd, Director at AS Retail who conducted the negotiations on behalf of the landlord commented “The team at The Cascades are absolutely delighted to welcome Sports Direct to the scheme and we’re excited to be going into 2021 on the front foot. Please contact myself or our joint agents GCW to discuss leasing opportunities to join the line-up at this exciting retail location”.

AS Retail have advised Electric Playbox, the revolutionary immersive gaming brand, in the negotiation and acquisition of their third location at Lakeside Shopping Centre.

The site totals close to 4,000 sq ft over two levels and is located within The Quay, the newly developed leisure extension of the scheme which is home to Puttshack, Nickelodeon, Hollywood Bowl plus a number of restaurants.

Electric Playbox are also located in London and Manchester and offer families, friends and corporate teams an amazing digital experience immersing themselves in various adventures such as Alien Aptitude Test and Rescue The Royals. We can vouch for it being tremendous fun – get yourself booked in at https://electricplaybox.com/.

Andrew Shepherd, Director at AS Retail who conducted the negotiations on behalf of Electric Playbox in this deal commented “We are proud to have worked with Electric Playbox in the acquisition of their first three sites and have been excited to see the evolution of the brand over the last year. The latest fit out at Lakeside is sensational and we can’t wait to experience one of the new adventures”.

Acting on behalf of Cards Direct, AS Retail are pleased to announce the opening of their new store located in the old Bon Marché unit in County Square Shopping Centre.  Totalling 2,820 sq ft at ground floor plus storage this store is the largest in the estate which is important during these socially distanced time. The unit is situated close to the main entrance of the scheme adjacent to The Fragrance Shop and F Hinds, opposite Pandora and Three.

Established in 2012 Cards Direct are now successfully trading across the Midlands and South of England with 35 stores.  They are represented in locations such as Ipswich, Canterbury, Basingstoke, Worthing, Harrow, Poole and Southampton amongst others.

Director of AS Retail, Andrew Shepherd said “We offer our congratulations to Cards Direct for opening their first store post-lockdown and wish them luck in the forthcoming Xmas trading”

Cards Direct are still actively looking for new stores, prime or good secondary, in Shopping Centres or High Streets for openings in 2021.  If you have anything you feel might be of interest please contact Andrew Shepherd or Ellie Oldershaw with the details.

 

AS Retail have been instructed to assist award winning Latin American dining chain Rico Sabor with the acquisition of their next restaurant.

Rico Sabor opened their stunning flagship Rochester restaurant in 2019 following the success of their first venue in Gravesend. Both are warm and welcoming places, bringing the best fusion of the most loved dishes from Spain and Latin America including a tasty selection of Tapas and Paellas. It’s delicious!

We are seeking a site which meets the following criteria:

Affluent & Attractive area
London / Essex / Kent / Sussex
2,000 – 3,500 sq ft
Outside seating of benefit
Former restaurants with extraction of interest

Andrew Shepherd, Director at AS Retail commented “We leased Rico Sabor their wonderful restaurant in Rochester and are delighted to be instructed to assist them with their expansion plans. The food and ambience is terrific with the venue proving to be highly popular, indeed probably the busiest place in town. Rico Sabor will be a super addition to any town’s dining offer and we look forward to working with them in securing their next restaurant.”

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

 

AS Retail are actively seeking new showrooms for Danish premium retail lifestyle brand BoConcept.

BoConcept are one of the globe’s most recognisable lifestyle and furniture retailers with showrooms in over 60 countries worldwide and 16 in the UK.

We are specifically seeking further UK stores in York, Leeds (pop-up), Cambridge and Exeter (other locations considered) meeting the following criteria:

Size: 3,500 – 4,000 sq ft, preferably over one trading level.

Internal Width: minimum 30ft, optimum 40 sq ft

Pitch: Just off prime, good secondary, out of town/roadside.

Spec: Fitted or landlord willing to enhance the spec to a ‘grey box’.

Please visit their website https://www.boconcept.com/en-gb for more information.

Andrew Shepherd, Director at AS Retail commented “We have been working with BoConcept for five years and have acquired a number of their recent openings including Edinburgh, Bristol, Chichester and Canterbury with a further flagship showroom in solicitors hands. We are excited to be assisting the brand in their expansion into further markets and look forward to receiving information on suitable properties shortly.”

Please contact Andrew Shepherd or Ellie Oldershaw with details of any opportunities.

AS Retail are delighted to have been appointed as joint letting agent with Bruce Gillingham Pollard in the leasing of the stunning Tunsgate Quarter in Guildford.

The extensive redevelopment of the Tunsgate Quarter was completed in 2018 and provides the premium shopping and leisure destination for Guildford. Retail brands represented include Nespresso, The White Company, Seasalt, Penhaligons, Bobbi Brown, OKA and Loaf with the dining offer being led by The Ivy, Cosy Club and Pho.

We are also pleased to announce that Gails will be joining the line up shortly.

We have a number of exciting opportunities for high quality and destination brands to join the line-up with stores ranging in size from 600 sq ft to up to 5,000 sq ft. We have a prime High Street facing unit with large return frontage into the mall, a hugely prominent unit on Tunsgate where the first floor space provides views over Guildford Castle and which would be ideal for a restaurant or retail showroom as well as internal units, two of which are fitted and ready for immediate occupation.

Please feel free to contact Andrew, Charmi or Ellie at AS Retail or our joint agents BGP to discuss availability at the Tunsgate Quarter.

AS Retail are excited to announce that our clients Jetts Fitness have signed for their 10^th UK studio and 3^rd in London.

Jetts have acquired a lease for a brand new studio in South West London, which will complement the existing sites in Clapham and Colliers Wood, with fit out commencing shortly and opening scheduled for late autumn. The studio will sit on Brixton Hill close to the Tulse Hill area and will provide approx. 5,200 sq ft as built over a single level. There are plans to extend the property to increase the floor space to over 6,000 sq ft shortly.

AS Retail are aggressively looking for suitable space for Jetts with a number of club owners financed and ready to take new sites this year of between 5,000 – 8,000 sq ft, ideally over a single level but two levels can be considered.

The recent change in planning policy greatly assists in our roll out as a change of use will not be required to convert properties from shops, restaurants or offices to our Gym use.

Please contact Andrew Shepherd or Ellie Oldershaw if you have anything you feel might be suitable.

 

 

 

AS Retail are delighted to announce the appointment of Ellie Oldershaw as Associate Director having served as a consultant for the past five years.

Ellie has extensive experience in the lease advisory sector working with numerous landlord and occupier clients in shaping their portfolios, offering strategic advice and assisting with their lease events. She has been instrumental in securing substantial savings for a number of our occupier clients during the last six months by agreeing various forms of ‘Covid-deal’ and is working with a number of clients in looking to restructure leases in order to find win-win situations and create sustainable lease terms going forward.

In her new role she will be charged with growing the important lease advisory function which we believe helps the AS Retail team deliver joined up advice to our clients, whether they be Institutional investors, private landlords or occupiers – big and small. Ellie will also be working on various agency projects including acquiring new sites for a host of our active occupiers such as Jetts Fitness, Gong Cha and Cards Direct to name but a few, where her knowledge of lease terms and tenacity will be a crucial factor in the aggressive roll out programmes they have planned.

Andrew Shepherd, Director at AS Retail commented ‘Ellie has been a vital part of our set-up for five years giving our clients expert and honest advice throughout; we are delighted that she will be taking a more senior role within the business as we grow, despite the uncertain times we are all currently facing.’

 

Gong Cha was founded in Taiwan in 2006 and is today one of the most recognised bubble tea brands in the world.

AS Retail has been retained by Gong Cha to assist with their UK expansion and, with approximately 1,500 stores already worldwide and two stores now open in Manchester, looking to increase their portfolio for space in London, Greater London and England, with particular interest in University cities.

They are looking for space between 300 and 1,200 sq ft with A1 use and 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 click on their website link here: https://www.gong-cha.com/en