Category: News

Rock Your Ride!

We are delighted to announce that AS Retail have advised on the acquisition of the first European CycleBar studio which has now exchanged at Ballymore’s Embassy Gardens in Nine Elms, close to the new US Embassy. The unit is approx. 3,100 sq ft at Ground Floor having an extended frontage to Nine Elms Lane and is scheduled to open in early Summer.

CycleBar are the globe’s largest indoor cycling studio chain with over 100 sites in the USA, 2 in Canada and 1 in Dubai. See and follow http://embassygardens.cyclebar.com/ for more information on CycleBar and progress on the build-out, plus pre-sale information.

AS Retail are instructed on the UK roll out with up to 75 sites sought nationwide over the next few years. We require 1,800 – 2,500 sq ft D2 Use in major or affluent locations beneath new office; residential developments or in Out of Town locations with parking. Please contact Andrew Shepherd with any opportunities.

Oh and get down to Embassy Gardens when it opens to try it out…

We are delighted to have advised RLAM on the upsize and relocation of Poundworld within the Lower Precinct Shopping Centre in Coventry.

Poundworld have taken 8,000 sq ft, which is an amalgamation of four units on the Lower Mall of the scheme.

Andrew Shepherd, Director at AS Retail, who conducted the negotiation commented “The new Flagship unit will drive footfall to that area of the scheme, which has historically been a little quieter than the other side. The unit looks superb and gives Poundworld a ‘right-sized’ unit within this vibrant scheme.”

Recent deals in the centre include re-gears with Next, H&M and Clarks plus lettings to Smiggle and Game. Leasing opportunities still exist – please do not hesitate to contact us to discuss your requirements.

We are delighted to see one of our latest acquisitions for BoConcept open its doors to trade in Bristol. It is always nice to see the hard work pay off. We are confident that Brett and his team will be incredibly successful with their new store and we look forward to visiting it soon.

With over 260 showrooms in 60 countries, BoConcept are one of the Globe’s largest lifestyle and furniture retailers. This is their latest UK acquisition following sites in Chichester, Canterbury and Edinburgh, which we also advised upon.

AS Retail is proud to be part of BoConcept’s journey and we very much look forward to supporting their growing business in the future.

AS Retail are delighted to announce that we have been appointed by RPMI RailPen as joint leasing agent at The Cascades Shopping Centre in Portsmouth.

The Cascades Shopping Centre totals circa 250,000 sq ft with over 80 units and is anchored by Primark, Next, H&M and TK Maxx. It is the primary shopping centre in the city with approx. 1,000 car parking spaces serving the scheme, a host of excellent retailers represented and an average footfall of 197,000 per week.

We have been appointed alongside GCW and have various immediate and future leasing opportunities available ranging in size between LSUs and kiosks. Please contact either Andrew Shepherd or Rob Jones at AS Retail on 020 7287 2155 or GCW to discuss your requirements.

This is how our new build restaurant in trendy and historic Rochester could look when fitted out. The build is close to completing and it’s available to lease immediately – please see the new marketing brochure via Property Listings or contact either Andrew Shepherd at AS Retail or our joint agent Simon Kelly at Intrinsic for further information.

Acting on behalf of BoConcept, AS Retail are delighted to have advised on the leasehold acquisition of 51-53 Merchant Street in Bristol.

With over 260 showrooms in 60 countries, BoConcept are one of the Globe’s largest lifestyle and furniture retailers. This is their latest UK acquisition following sites in Chichester, Canterbury and Edinburgh, which we also advised upon. We are pleased to have secured such a superb location with Merchant Street linking The Horsefair and Broadmead, close to Cabot Circus which has a planned extension.

The premises comprise a ground floor sales area of 2,007 sq ft with first floor sales and ancillary of 1,714 sq ft, plus a second floor area of 607 sq ft. It was secured on a ten-year lease. Andrew Shepherd, Director at AS Retail conducted the negotiations and commented: ‘’This will be an excellent site for BoConcept and we look forward to seeing it open around Easter. We are actively seeking additional sites in key markets nationwide and please get in contact with any opportunities”

We are delighted to welcome our newest team member to AS Retail. Sarah has joined us in January this year as Administration and Marketing Assistant and will support the team by assisting with general inquiries, property research and the marketing of the business.

Sarah has entered our industry coming from a hospitality background and having worked for larger cooperation such as InterContinental Hotels Group PLC, Hyatt Hotels Corporation and Compass Group UK & Ireland Ltd.

Next has signed a new lease at Royal London Asset Management’s 225,000 sq ft Lower Precinct Shopping Centre in Coventry. They occupy a prime two level trading store of approximately 18,000 sq ft close to H&M, New Look, Smiggle and Pandora.

Home Bargains and Pizza Hut have also signed five year leases extending their stay at the centre whilst H&M secured their future to the centre by signing a new lease in 2016.

Home Bargains are the anchor tenant on Sherbourne Arcade which links the heart of Lower Precinct to the Indoor Market and occupy 5,100 sq ft. Pizza Hut occupy 4,000 sq ft on the Lower Mall and have been utilising this branch for the trial of new trading formats.

An Agreement to Lease has also been signed with Poundworld who are relocating to a larger unit within Lower Precinct where four units are being amalgamated to create an 8,000 sq ft unit adjacent to Pizza Hut. Handover for shop fitting is scheduled for January 2018.

AS Retail and Wright Silverwood are the joint leasing agents at Lower Precinct. Next, H&M and Pizza Hut were not represented. Francis & Co acted for Poundworld and Bennett REC represented Home Bargains.

Andrew Shepherd, Director at AS Retail, commented ‘We are delighted to have concluded these strategically important transactions over the past 15 months. The speculation concerning Next potentially relocating to the former BHS store can now be put to rest and we can now focus on moving Lower Precinct forward by building upon the solid foundation created and with the added bonus of Coventry being named City of Culture 2021. Vacancy rates are low but we do have a few new opportunities coming up for retailers and caterers to obtain representation with the centre. Please contact the joint agents to discuss your requirements.’

Acting on behalf of Mountain Warehouse, AS Retail are delighted to have advised on the leasehold acquisition of 198 High Street, Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire from Lloyds Bank Plc.

The property sits in a 100% prime location on the busy and vibrant High Street adjacent to Clinton Cards and Carluccios, close to Boots, Paperchase, Fat Face, Waterstones, Laura Ashley and Carphone Warehouse.

It comprises a ground floor sales area of 1,470 sq ft with first floor sales and ancillary of 1,508 sq ft. It was secured after a competitive bidding situation on a ten year lease.

Rob Jones, Director at AS Retail conducted the negotiations.

Acting on behalf of a major landlord client, AS Retail has successfully negotiated the lease renewals of three Bank properties in Golders Green, London.

New leases have been completed with HSBC, Lloyds and Virgin Money within a prime block on Golders Green Road at the junction with Finchley Road. Two of properties have physical challenges with hard frontages and irregular shapes with the third being complicated by the presence of a sub-tenant. All three banks have taken renewal leases at healthy rentals.

Eleanor Oldershaw at AS Retail who conducted the negotiations commented “I am delighted to have completed these three renewals. They consolidate a higher rental tone in Golders Green Road, and secure the occupation of these strong tenants for a further term.”

Please feel free to contact either Ellie or Andrew Shepherd at AS Retail to discuss any similar properties where advise is required.

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