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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’ 3^rd site in London following studios in Clapham and Colliers Wood and the 10^th 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.