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We are proud to have advised Gong Cha, one of the globe’s leading bubble tea brands on their latest acquisition on 78 Market Street in Manchester. The prominent 688 sq ft corner unit is located on Manchester’s busiest shopping street, provides Gong Cha with a flagship site and was secured on a new ten-year lease.

Gong Cha was founded in 2006 in Kaohsiung, Taiwan and is now represented in more than 20 countries with over 1,500 outlets across Asia, Australia, New Zealand and the USA.

AS Retail are retained by Gong Cha to assist with their expansion and are actively seeking new sites in London, Trafford Centre, Birmingham, Liverpool, Leeds, Sheffield, Birmingham and other major cities for 2020 acquisitions of ideally between 300-1,200 sq ft.

Please get in contact with Andrew Shepherd or Claudio Palmiero at AS Retail to discuss the requirement.

Follow the link below to see what our very own Andrew Shepherd had to say when The Requirement List asked the questions.

Q&A with Andrew Shepherd

AS Retail are delighted to have been appointed by Capreon to act as leasing agent on their holdings in Farnborough.

The majority of the asset sits on Queensmead in the heart of the town centre, stretching almost the full length of the primary high street comprising 28 units and totalling approximately 70,000 sq ft of retail accommodation. The tenant line-up includes a mix of household names including Peacocks, Ryman, Shoe Zone and Lloyds Bank coupled with a number of excellent local and independent businesses.

The instruction also includes the former Nat West Bank on Victoria Road which is likely to be a re-configuration to provide two units suitable for catering, financial, health and beauty or other destinational uses.

Farnborough is an upwardly mobile town in Hampshire with significant population growth expected over the next few years and major inward investment from a number of private and public bodies. Capreon have recently commenced a refurbishment of their asset including refreshing the elevations and canopies which will elevate the appeal of the location.

There are three units to immediate lease of between 1,600 – 6,000 sq ft sales available on permanent or short-term leases plus other asset management initiatives planned. Therefore, please get in touch with Andrew or Claudio at AS Retail, or our joint agent David Savage at Clare & Co to discuss your requirements.

We are excited to welcome Nando’s and Esquires to Addlestone One.

Addlestone One, a vibrant mixed-use development, is anchored by Waitrose, Premier Inn and The Light Cinema with Smith & Western, Holland & Barrett and Boots Opticians trading alongside 213 dwellings, over 350 dedicated car parking spaces and the Runnymede Council offices.

Nando’s need no introduction and we can’t wait to see them open in late Summer!

Esquires are a global coffee chain with community spirit, operating an increasing number of excellent coffee houses throughout the UK. They will complement the development and provide a great environment for refreshments and snacks.

Further retail and leisure opportunities remain available to let, please get in touch with Will Stone or Andrew Shepherd at AS Retail or our joint agents at Avison Young for further information.

We have decided to get involved and raise funds for Diabetes UK in joining their one Million Step Challenge. The British-based charity campaigns for improvements in the care and treatment of people living with diabetes and supporting everyone affected by it.

Diabetes is a lifelong condition that causes a person’s blood sugar level to rise higher than normal and can lead to devastating complications if left untreated.

The aim of the challenge is to push ourselves, get moving and take at least one Million Steps each between July 1st and September 30th. Every Team member of AS Retail has signed up and will get either walking, running, chasing after kids or dancing to hit that one Million Steps goal.

Please help us reach our target of £2,000 between us by donating, however big or small. Simply visit step.diabetes.org.uk and search for any of our team members via the ‘Find Participant’ tab.

Wish us luck and we’ll keep you updated on our progress.

Smith and Western are the first restaurant occupier to open in the new Addlestone One development in Surrey. The development provides contemporary living, leisure and retail elements which has been carefully designed to integrate into the town centre.

Smith and Western, founded by the Cox family in 1995, has been inspired by several trips to Nashville Tennessee and the lone star State of Texas. After opening their first restaurant in Horsham, offering wholesome American-style food with easy going Southern hospitality, Smith and Western has proven to be a successful concept which led to a roll-out across the South East of England serving great food and cold beers with the good ol’ Wild West atmosphere.

The vibrant mixed-use development is surrounded by an affluent local demographic. Addlestone One is already home to Waitrose, Premier Inn, Boots Opticians, Holland & Barrett, an Achieve Lifestyle gym and a six screen Light Cinema. Nando’s has also committed itself to the scheme and is set to open Autumn 2019 plus we have a number of other occupiers in advanced stages of legals. The residential element offers 213 dwellings and the scheme has over 350 dedicated car parking spaces.

Further retail and leisure opportunities remain available to let, please get in touch with Will Stone or Andrew Shepherd at AS Retail or our joint agents at Avison Young for further information.

We are delighted to have been instructed alongside JLL by Crest Nicholson to commence the pre-letting of Brightwells Yard, a vibrant new mixed-use scheme in the heart of Farnham.

Positioned between East Street and South Street, Brightwells Yard will incorporate a new Town Square with an adjoining open space that links the development to the River Wey.

The scheme is designed to not just complement Farnham’s character but to create a new sought-after destination for retailers, restaurant-operators and families alike.

With M&S Foodhall, Reel Cinema and Seasalt already committed, the development provides a total of 100,000 sq ft of commercial space and will benefit from 239 dwellings as well as 400 car parking spaces. Works have commenced on site with opening scheduled for early 2021.

A copy of the marketing brochure can be found via the Property Listings and please contact Andrew or Claudio for further information and to register your requirements 

We are delighted to have advised Matalan on the acquisition of their new store in the City Centre of Leeds. Matalan is a British fashion and homeware retailer and has over 215 stores nationwide.

The highly prominent premises are located at The Core Shopping Centre with the main entrance on The Headrow. The unit comprises a total floor area of nearly 20,000 sq ft and it was secured on a ten-year lease. Andrew Shepherd, Director at AS Retail, conducted the negotiations and commented: ‘’We are confident that this will prove to be an excellent site for Matalan and we look forward to seeing it open soon.’’

AS Retail are delighted to have completed a fifth lease renewal for our client, Church Commissioners, in Golders Green.

Lease advisory specialist Ellie Oldershaw commented “We are really pleased to have secured the occupation of another strong tenant for a further ten-year term at a higher rent, despite the difficult market.  Having already completed renewals with other tenants including HSBC, Lloyds and Virgin Money, all at rental increases, this block now represents a secure income stream for our client.”

Please don’t hesitate to contact us, should you be in a similar situation and require advice.

We are delighted to announce that our client Jetts 24 Hour Fitness have now opened their first London studio in Colliers Wood.

The Colliers Wood club sits close to The Tandem Centre, a short walk from Colliers Wood underground station and totals approx. 4,200 sq ft with an extended frontage onto busy Christchurch Road.

Jetts are a Global Gym brand with over 250 clubs, operating 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. With the latest addition to their portfolio, Jetts have now seven studios in the UK and we have plans for an extensive roll-out over the next few years.

On behalf of Jetts, AS Retail are actively searching new sites in Greater London, South East and South West England for 2019 – 2020 opening of ideally between 4,500-7,000 sq ft. Please get in contact with Andrew Shepherd or any of the AS Retail team to discuss the requirement.