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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.

Our clients Cancer Research UK have opened their 46^th Superstore at The Forge Retail Park in Glasgow recently.

The new unit totals 5,000 sq ft and is situated immediately adjacent to M&S Outlet and Aldi. Other occupiers on the park include Next, Sports Direct, B&M and Home Bargains.

The transformation over the last few weeks is incredible with the store stocked with the usual range of fashion, toys, books, games and a range of brand-new ‘bought in goods’.

This opening follows hot on the heels of the recent opening at Crown Street Retail Park just across town.

Andrew Shepherd, director of AS Retail who conducted negotiations on behalf of CRUK commented “We’re delighted to see the new Superstore at The Forge now open. It’s a superb location and we wish our clients the best of luck in trading here.”

Thank you to Coates & Co who represented the landlords on both Glasgow deals.

Regional Pizzeria Monte Forte have opened their doors at Brightwells Yard, Farnham.

Sitting close to the new six screen Reel cinema they have taken a long-term lease on RU6 totalling c 1,700 sq ft at Ground Floor only and are the first catering occupier to open at the scheme. Nandos are opening adjacent to them shortly and we have two other catering deals progressing through legals.

Monte Forte was launched in 2017 by Paolo and Luca in a food truck working at private events, weddings, birthday parties, markets and food festivals. They have now opened restaurants in Reigate and Horsham and we’re all thrilled that they are bringing their Neapolitan pizza to Farnham.

Kathryn Evans, Senior Surveyor at AS Retail who conducted the negotiations on behalf of the landlord commented “I’m delighted that Monte Forte have chosen Brightwells for their Farnham restaurant and we wish them every success.”

We are excited to announce that our clients Jetts Fitness are to open their 19^th UK club at Colton Retail Park in Leeds in early 2025.

Colton Retail Park is approx. 4 miles to the East from Leeds City Centre and around 3.5 miles from the Leeds Rothwell club which opened in 2023. The Colton Park unit was formerly occupied by Poundstretcher and totals circa 8,000 sq ft sitting adjacent to Pets At Home close to Sainsbury and B&M.

Jetts are one of the global leaders in health & fitness with their affordable boutique fitness model filling a USP in the market. Andrew Shepherd, director of AS Retail who conducted the negotiations and secured the site for Jetts commented  “Jetts Fitness are going from strength to strength and we look forward to seeing this club open early in the New Year which will be followed by further openings in Q1 and Q2 as the expansion continues.”

We are thrilled for business owners Jen and James Watson who have gone from being members of the Skipton gym to owning their own club; we wish them the best of luck and you can read more about their story via this link – https://jetts.co.uk/jetts-uk-is-coming-to-leeds/

We are actively looking for further sites for Jetts across the UK for between 5,000 – 10,000 sq ft so please contact Andrew Shepherd or Ollie Haxton with any opportunities you have that you feel might be suitable.

Photographs taken from the Jetts UK website

 

AS Retail are very excited to announce that leading family entertainment brand Flip Out has opened its doors at Lower Precinct Shopping Centre in Coventry.

Flip Out have taken the upper two floors of the former TJ Hughes store with their sister brand Putt Putt Social already open in the lower mall section. Overall the unit totals some 43,000 sq ft of space with entrances into the mall and Putt Putt Social opening onto Corporation Street. Flip Out complete the occupancy at Lower Precinct which has seen brands such as Søstrene Grene, The Fragrance Shop, Cards Direct, The Works and Ryman open this year.

Flip Out are the UK’s biggest and best indoor adventure park for families and children with various exciting activities such as dodgems, skating, laser tag, mini-golf and soft play all under the one roof.

Andrew Shepherd, Director at AS Retail who conducted the negotiations on behalf of the landlord commented “ After a lengthy and complex negotiation we are thrilled that Flip Out have now opened just in time for the Winter holiday season. Flip Out and their sister brand Putt Putt Social add an extra dimension to the tenant mix at Lower Precinct which is now fully let for the first time in many years. We are delighted with the outcome of the leasing effort over the last eighteen months to secure quality tenants for both the former TJ Hughes and former Next spaces as well as filling other units in the scheme.”

For further information please contact Andrew Shepherd at AS Retail or our Joint Agents Wright Silverwood and Space.

May & Company acted for Flip Out and Putt Putt Social.

 

AS Retail have been instructed to bring to the market Unit 3, 49 High Street Ascot.  The subject unit is situated in a prime location on the High Street and the town has a good mix of retail, cafes, pubs and restaurants.

The unit is arranged over ground and first floor and the core information is listed below:
Ground Floor Sales: 861 sq ft (80 sq m)
Mezzanine Ancillary 265 sq ft (24.6 sq m)
Quoting Rent: £42,500 pax
Rateable Value 2024: £31,500

If you require further information and plans please contact Ollie Haxton at AS Retail.

River Greens, a brand-new family run business merging sustainability with luxury retail, has opened at 295 King Street, Ravenscourt Park, close to Hammersmith in West London.

River Greens is a gourmet grocery store and deli which offers an amazing selection of tasty vegetables and fruits, crisp greens, heirloom and rainbow mix tomatoes, specialist sources, unique and international food items, treats and seasonal produce and products in a welcoming and classy environment. Each item will reflect the owner’s commitment to the planet and good palate.

Andrew Shepherd, Director at AS Retail who conducted the negotiations on behalf of River Greens commented “We are delighted to have advised River Greens in the acquisition of their first store on King Street in Ravenscourt Park, We considered various locations over an extended period but are thrilled to have secured this space where River Greens will integrate into and become an integral part of the community. We wish them well and hope to source a second location for them in 2025.”

Thank you to James Peanell at JP Retail who acted for the landlord in this deal.

 

What an amazing year Cards Direct have had.  A total of 21 new stores plus one relocation/upsized store have opened in 2024; the last two openings being in Bridgend and Corby.

Cards Direct’s geographical reach now covers the majority of the country including three stores in South Wales, the West of England from Bristol through Hereford, Cheltenham and Gloucester and up into the West Midlands to Stafford, then across the East Midlands up to Yorkshire and Humberside where stores have been opened in Sheffield, Leeds, Wakefield, Doncaster, Scunthorpe and two in Hull (to name a few!).

Andrew Shepherd, Director at AS Retail who advised Cards Direct on all the lease acquisitions commented “Congratulations our clients in achieving this huge milestone and a massive well done to everyone involved in the store acquisition programme. A big thanks to the landlord teams who have leased us the spaces and we look forward to working with you going forward as the expansion continues into 2025.”

We already have a number of sites identified for 2025 openings but if you have anything you feel suitable across England and Wales please contact Andrew Shepherd at AS Retail.