Category: News

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.

Following immediately in the wake of the recent Jetts Fitness launch, Pirates Landing Soft Play have now opened their amazing new 6,600 sq ft children’s play arena at Brightwells Yard.

This exciting regional brand is another excellent addition to the tenant mix at Brightwells. Pirates Landing are already established in Camberley and Wokingham; catering for children up to the age of 12 years with their frames, slides, tunnels and ball pool; they host organised birthday parties and have an on-site café.

Andrew Shepherd director at AS Retail who leased the space on behalf of the Landlord commented “We are pleased to welcome Pirates Landing to Brightwells Yard. They are another fantastic opening adding to the 6-screen Reel cinema, Jetts Fitness, Pilates Movement Studio & Charters. Monte Forte Pizzeria and Nandos will be opening this month as we build occupation at this quality development.”

We still have a number of spaces available from 800-8,000 sq ft for retail, catering and service sector available to let for immediate occupation.  Please contact Kathryn or Andrew to discuss your requirements.

Photographs taken from the Pirates Landing website.

Brilliant news as Jetts Fitness have opened their latest club at Brightwells Yard in Farnham.

PC was achieved a few weeks ago with Brightwells Yard comprising c. 100,000 sq ft of commercial space plus a 6-screen Reel cinema all set around a new town square and gardens sitting alongside 250 apartments and 400 car parking spaces. Jetts joins Reel cinema, Pilates Movement Studio and Charters all of whom have already opened with Pirates Landing Soft Play, Nandos and Monte Forte opening soon.

Jetts have taken a two level, 9,000 sq ft space which looks incredible and houses the best world class equipment, large functional and strength training areas with the usual J-Series classes.

Andrew Shepherd, Director at AS Retail who are the leasing agents at Brightwells commented “We are delighted to see more openings at Brightwells and wish our friends at Jetts every success with this club which looks amazing and is a great addition to our tenant mix. We have a number of other deals progressing at Brightwells but have various spaces ranging from 900 – 8,000 sq ft that would be ideal for retail, catering or leisure brands. We are open to independent and regional brands as well as national occupiers so please get in touch to discuss your requirements.”

Please contact Andrew Shepherd or Kathryn Evans to discuss Brightwells in more detail.

Our clients Cancer Research UK have continued their Superstore roll out with their largest store in Scotland.

Superstore Number 44 is a fantastic 10,000 sq ft space at Glasgow’s new Crown Street Retail Park; we were onsite for the opening which included a VIP ribbon cutter and a traditional Piper.

This recently completed retail park is situated 1.5 miles from the city centre with CRUK joining Aldi, B&M, Poundland, Food Warehouse, JD Gyms, Costa Coffee and Card Factory to name a few.

Selling the usual range of fashion, toys, books and games, all of their new Superstores are also able to sell a wider range including furniture and electricals as well as an extensive range of brand new ‘bought in’ goods.

Andrew Shepherd, Director at AS Retail who conducted the negotiations on behalf of CRUK commented “We are delighted to have secured this site for our clients. Congratulations to the team on getting this fantastic looking store fitted and open. We have further superstore openings in Scotland planned over the coming months but are keen for more opportunities.”

Alasdair Coates and Mark Dawson at Coates & Co acted for the landlord – thank you for your assistance here getting the deal over the line.

We 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 us. Market rents are paid. Our joint agent David Honeyman is running the search in England and Wales.

If you have anything you feel suitable, please get in touch with Andrew Shepherd or Georgina Massey at AS Retail.

We are delighted to announce that Brightwells Yard in Farnham has now been handed over by the developer.

This superbly designed, quality 35-unit, mixed-use open-air scheme has now reached Practical Completion and the first half dozen occupiers are now fitting out. The scheme benefits from new gardens, a new town square, 245 apartments, a 6-screen Reel cinema and 400 car parking spaces all to complement the 100,000 sq ft of commercial space.

Nando’s and regional pizzeria Monte Forte are fitting out in the restaurant block close to the cinema. Pirates Landing Soft Play are fitting out c 6,000 sq ft on Town Square with Jetts Gym well on the way to opening their new 9,000 sq ft 24/7 gym fronting Brightwells Gardens. Charters Estate Agents and Pilates Movement Studio are also fitting out spaces fronting Town Square.

We have a number of other lettings progressing but have spaces from 800 sq ft to 8,000 sq ft for retail, catering, leisure, service sector available to let for immediate occupation.

Please contact the team at AS Retail to discuss your requirements.

Soul Chill, a popular Taiwanese food and drink chain, opened its first store in the UK on Princess Way, The Square Shopping Centre in Camberley last week.

Serving Taiwanese fruit teas, pearl milk teas and snacks this exciting new concept will be fantastic addition to the tenant mix within the centre.  In 2022 Soul Chill won the “Popularity Award” at the 2022 Taiwan Milk Tea Festival and the 2022/2023 Belgian ITQI International Taste Award and received the highest Three Star Award.

Kathryn Evans, surveyor at AS Retail commented “We are really pleased to see Soul Chill opening in Camberley and bringing a new vibrant offering to the centre that we are sure will be a great success. The brand has already achieved many accolades globally and has an exciting future ahead of them.”

We have leasing and asset management opportunities at The Square so please contact Kathryn Evans at AS Retail for more information.

We are very excited to announce that there have been two new openings for Cards Direct last week, one in Mansfield and one in Telford.

We acquired the double fronted 1,900 sq ft former Clintons unit at the Four Seasons Shopping Centre in Mansfield and the 1,500 sq ft former Scotts unit Telford Shopping Centre. Both units sit in prime positions and have been fitted out to an excellent standard as always.

Andrew Shepherd, Director at AS Retail who conducted the negotiations on behalf of Cards Direct commented “Both Telford and Mansfield are busy towns which have been of interest to us for some time and we’re delighted to have secured these excellent stores for Cards Direct. We’re currently fitting out two which will open next week and have others scheduled for Autumn openings – but we need more for 2025!”

We continue to search for our clients and, if you have anything you feel is suitable, please send it through to Andrew Shepherd at AS Retail.

Barker Proudlove acted for the landlord in Mansfield and Wright Silverwood advised the landlord in Telford.