Category: News

Congratulations to our clients Cards Direct who have recently opened its latest store at The Kingsgate Centre in Huddersfield.

We have successfully negotiated a long-term lease on Unit 7 which was previously occupied by Trespass. The unit comprises c 2,100 sq ft at ground floor with a 680 sq ft mezzanine storage area and sits close to other new openings including Lovisa and Holland & Barrett, with the new Boots store coming soon.

This is their 88^th store with three more planned to open before Christmas including the exciting new stores at The Eastgate Centre in Basildon and on Victoria Street in Blackpool, where fit out has commenced on both.

Andrew Shepherd, director of AS Retail who conducted all the negotiations on behalf of Cards Direct commented “Having populated much of Yorkshire in 2024, Huddersfield remained an outstanding requirement and we’re thrilled to have secured this prime unit, joining the rapidly evolving tenant mix at The Kingsgate Centre which has come on leaps and bounds in the last 18 months. Hot on the heels of this opening will be new store in Basildon, another long-term requirement now fulfilled, and Blackpool with one other new unit in North West commencing fit out next week’

We continue to search nationwide for our clients as we build an acquisition pipeline for 2026 and push towards the 100 store milestone; if you have anything you feel is suitable please send it through to Andrew Shepherd.

Newns Webster acted for the Landlord in Huddersfield. Jamieson Mills acted for the Landlord in Basildon and Barker Proudlove acted for the landlord in Blackpool.

Earlier this month Andrew and Ollie attended the inaugural Jetts Fitness UK Gathering and as you can see it was all work.

Our clients Jetts Fitness now have 22 fantastic clubs in the UK and we have advised them on most of them over the last seven or eight years. This gathering was an opportunity for the Support Office, Business Owners, Club managers and staff as well as various suppliers to Jetts to get together for networking, strategizing and to get some well-earned sun just as the weather turns for the worse.

Held at the fantastic Club La Santa in Lanzarote, the boys got to play some Padel (badly), do sunset Yoga (also badly) but also enjoy the 400m running track and 50m Olympic pool as well as enjoying the seminar sessions and some networking with the Jetts Family.

We were also thrilled to have won Jetts Supply Partner of the Year; a big thanks to all that voted for us and we look forward to helping with the accelerating roll out into 2026 and beyond.

The latest openings are in Lichfield and Basingstoke with more planned before Xmas and into the New Year. Please do contact us to discuss any suitable opportunities that you may have for Jetts.

Our clients Traid are seeking another fabulous showroom in Greater London to add to their portfolio.

They already have 13 stores across London including Camden, Clapham, Brixton, Hammersmith, Lewisham, Dalston & Westbourne Grove.

We are seeking a unit of ideally 1,500 – 2,500 sq ft sales (we can potentially go smaller in some areas) in the following priority locations:

Walworth Road                  Wimbledon
Richmond                             Islington
Fulham                                  Stratford
Ealing                                     Greenwich

Other locations will be considered.

Traid offer a great covenant, will take long term leases and can pay market rents for the right space in the right location.

Please contact Andrew at AS Retail if you have anything you feel suitable.

We are delighted to confirm that our clients Jetts Fitness have opened in the Hampshire town of Basingstoke.

Jetts have acquired a new lease on a unit of approximately 6,600 sq ft at Chineham Shopping Centre just to the north of the town centre. This is an exciting location for Jetts to open as the development is anchored by Tesco with other occupiers in the scheme including M&S Foodhall, Pets Corner, Boots and Greggs and with ample free car parking plus the scheme being surrounding by housing stock and commercial occupiers.

Jetts are one of the global leaders in health and fitness with over 20 clubs now open in the UK and more in the pipeline. Each club is designed bespoke and tailored to the individual market with the equipment mix within the Basingstoke club curated to match the gaps in the market all set within the premium feeling environment.

Andrew Shepherd, Director at AS Retail who conducted the negotiations and secured the site for Jetts commented  “We were so pleased to secure this space for our client. Our business owner here is local to the location and was adamant that he wanted a club in his home town; we had to be patient with the search but have secured a great site. We will Vishnu and the team well.”

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.

Great news as our clients Cancer Research UK have opened in their relocated ‘Core’ store on Sinclair Street in the attractive and lively Scottish seaside town of Helensburgh.

Formerly occupied by Boots and sitting opposite the Coop supermarket, the store totals circa 1,675 sq ft at ground floor with 300 sq ft at first floor. It has been fully refurbished with the opening coinciding with the closure of the old store just down the road which was subject to landlord redevelopment.

Andrew Shepherd, Director at AS Retail who conducted negotiations on behalf of CRUK commented “After a lengthy negotiation we are pleased to have secured this relocation on behalf of our clients so they can retain their representation in Helensburgh.

We have ‘Core’ store relocation requirements in Hayes (Middlesex) and Portswood (Southampton) but are still actively looking in Scotland and Northern Ireland for CRUK ‘Superstores’ on busy Retail Parks, preferably 5,000 – 10,000 sq ft with a good mix of fashion, grocery and value retailers sitting alongside.  Market rents are paid. Our joint agent David Honeyman is running the search in England and Wales.

If you have anything you feel might be suitable please contact either Andrew Shepherd or Georgina Massey at AS Retail.

Exciting news as Cards Direct have opened their 5th new store of the year and 85th overall, at 83 Merseyway Shopping Centre in Stockport.

We have successfully negotiated a new lease on the JD Sports unit within the covered section of this busy mall. Providing circa 2,000 sq ft at ground floor with storage the unit is the second store in Greater Manchester following swiftly on the heels of the recent opening in Ashton Under Lyne.

Andrew Shepherd, Director at AS Retail who negotiated this deal on behalf of Cards Direct commented “We’re all really pleased to see this one open and trading. Fit out has already begun on the 86th store at The Mall in Blackburn with a few more openings planned before Christmas.”

We are still searching for new opportunities throughout the UK for the 2026 pipeline. If you have anything you feel suitable please send it through to Andrew Shepherd.

On Tuesday 22^nd July our clients Cancer Research UK opened the doors to their latest Superstore and first in Northern Ireland at Connswater Retail Park in Belfast.

Totalling c 7,500 sq ft and sitting next to Lidl, this great looking store broke all previous sales records for a superstore launch.

Andrew Shepherd, Director at AS Retail commented “Congratulations to all involved with the delivery and opening of this store; we wish you continued trading success”.

Pictures of the day are attached.

We are actively seeking more superstore locations in Scotland and Northern Ireland for our clients – please get in touch with us to discuss anything that might be suitable.

We at AS Retail represented CRUK and Kee Commercial acted for the landlord in the transaction.

 

Acting on behalf of our retail clients Concept Living, the London and South East franchise partner for BoConcept, we have successfully negotiated the acquisition of a new Warehouse in East London.

Concept Living have signed a long term lease for a refurbished 12,000 sq ft warehouse and office space plus parking and yard at Stirling Industrial Estate in Dagenham.

This unit will be used for the storage and distribution of furniture plus ancillary offices functions with a comprehensive fit out taking place following the whole scale refurbishment of the building by the landlord. This acquisition will bring multiple sites under one roof improving efficiencies for the company.

BoConcept are one of the global leading furniture and lifestyle brands with over 300 showrooms in more than 60 markets including a host of stores in the UK. We have acquired a number of new stores over the past few years including Cheltenham, Exeter and St Albans but are retained to search for a showroom of between 2,500 – 4,000 sq ft in South East London & North Kent specifically Bromley, Tunbridge Wells and Sevenoaks and if you have anything you feel might be suitable please contact Andrew shepherd to discuss further.

Andrew Shepherd, Director at AS Retail who negotiated the deal on behalf of BoConcept commented “This is the third warehouse we have acquired for different BoConcept franchise partners over the last few years as we work with them across their estate to drive efficiencies as well as opening new retail stores. We are particularly pleased with this deal as it brings a number of different sites together under one roof and the facility will look fabulous once finished. A big thanks to the landlord team at Logicor and Kemsley who acted for them in getting the deal done and the initial refurb completed.”

 

 

We are very excited to announce that we recently concluded a deal at Connswater Retal Park, Belfast for our clients Cancer Research UK. The unit totals c 7,500 sq ft of space immediately adjacent to Lidl.  Other occupiers on the park include Home Bargains, B&M, Starbucks, Ulster Bank, McDonalds to name but a few.

Fitting out has commenced and the Superstore will open it’s doors in a few weeks time – watch this space for further information!

Andrew Shepherd, Director at AS Retail who concluded the deal on behalf of CRUK commented “We are thrilled to have identified and secured this store on behalf of our clients; we look forward to seeing it open and trading shortly.”

CRUK still have an active requirement for Superstores in Northern Ireland and Scotland for between 5,000 – 10,000 sq ft so please send through anything you have to Andrew Shepherd or Georgina Massey.  David Honeyman is the appointed agent searching in England and Wales for CRUK.

Kee Commercial acted for the landlord in this deal.

Exciting news as Jetts opened its doors today in their brand new 7,000 sq ft club at 100 Burnt Oak Broadway, London.

This is the first club in North London for Jetts and is arranged with a well-proportioned ground floor lobby with the main work-out space in the basement. The club sits adjacent to the new Sainsburys Local close to the junction with Watling Avenue leading to Burnt Oak Station.

Jetts are one of the global leaders in health and fitness with 20 clubs now open in the UK and more in the pipeline.

Andrew Shepherd, director at AS Retail who represented Jetts in the negotiations commented “We’re thrilled to have secured this site on behalf of the Jetts’ Business Owners;  the fit out looks great and it’s the best gym in the area by far.”

We are actively looking for further sites of between 5,000 – 10,000 sq ft for Jetts throughout England & Wales (we can go larger!) so please contact Andrew Shepherd or Ollie Haxton with any opportunities you have that you feel might be suitable.

Ascent Real Estate acted for the landlord in this deal.

Photographs taken from the Jetts UK website.