58 Liverpool Road

Unit E10-12 Blackwell Street, The Swan Centre

8 North Street

Ground Floor Retail Unit

Unit 20, Crossgates Shopping Centre

Unit 47-48, Crossgates Shopping Centre

110 Holburn Street

The NQ Building

Unit 1B Henry Plaza

Unit 5, Commercial Way

featured_image

londonuk-august172023-wilkostorefrontincolindale-the

London,,Uk.,August,17,,2023.,Wilko,Storefront,In,Colindale.,The

The chair of Wilko has said she is "devastated" for letting down letting down the collapsed retailer's staff, suppliers, and customers.



Speaking to MPs on the Business and Trade Committee, Lisa Wilkinson - the granddaughter of the chain's founder James - said: "I don't know how to put into words how sad I am that we let down all our customers, all our team members, our suppliers, our advisers genuinely, I don't know what you want me to say."



"Well, sorry was the one word I was looking for", interjected Liam Byrne, the committee's chair.



Wilkinson replied: "You can have the word sorry, of course I'm sorry, if you wish me to say the word sorry - I thought devastated covered it. I apologise, I wasn't trying to be clever."



Wilkinson is currently under fire from MPs after it was revealed that £77m was paid in dividends in the run up to Wilko's collapse. This included £3m in dividends paid to trusts related to the founding family, although Lisa Wilkinson said she had not personally benefitted.



The chain <a href="https://news.completelyretail.co.uk/wilko-collapses-into-administration/">collapsed in August</a> which saw some 12,000 members of staff at risk of losing their jobs. <a href="https://news.completelyretail.co.uk/poundland-agrees-to-take-71-wilko-stores/">Poundland's owner then took over the leases of 71 Wilko stores</a> and rebranded them, whilst <a href="https://news.completelyretail.co.uk/over-50-wilko-stores-to-close-hours-after-bm-purchase/">B&amp;M also took control of over 50 shops</a>.



CDS Superstores, which owns The Range, <a href="https://news.completelyretail.co.uk/the-range-agrees-5m-deal-to-snap-up-wilko-brand/">acquired Wilko's name and website</a> and <a href="https://news.completelyretail.co.uk/wilko-stores-to-return-to-high-streets-by-christmas/">will be opening five Wilko stores during the festive period</a>.



The Wilko chair also pointed to the fallout following Liz Truss and Kwasi Kwarteng's mini budget as one of the reasons the retailer fell into administration. She said that this had led to a higher interest rate for a deal with Australian firm and lender Macquarie which eventually fell through.



She also cited a decline in high street retail and Wilko's decision to stay open during the pandemic as contributing factors.



It was recently revealed that former Wilko staff have received £42m from the taxpayer.



Nadine Houghton, GMB national officer, said last week: "The hard truth is that taxpayers are subsidising more than a decade of mismanagement at Wilko that condemned the much-loved chain to failure.



"Answers are long overdue, and Wilko's former management must account for their record when they face MPs".

Wilko chair "devastated" over retailer's collapse

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Screenshot 2023-11-28 at 13.24.28

Wendy's has opened the doors to its first restaurant in Surrey in <a href="https://completelyretail.co.uk/shops-to-rent/guildford">Guildford</a>.



The American burger chain has taken a 3,204 sq ft unit on North Street which was previously home to Mothercare.



Opening on Tuesday morning, the restaurant's offer includes its signature square burgers and desserts, as well as salads, vegetarian options, and a kids' menu.



JRK Restaurants are currently aiding the American restaurant’s UK expansion, including in <a href="https://completelyretail.co.uk/shops-to-rent/kingston-upon-thames">Kingston-upon-Thames</a> and <a href="https://completelyretail.co.uk/shops-to-rent/reading">Reading</a>. The restaurant chain <a href="https://news.completelyretail.co.uk/wendys-seeking-high-street-and-roadside-locations-nationwide/">has been seeking</a> both high street and drive-through locations in the UK.

Wendy's Guildford becomes chain's first Surrey restaurant

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Edinburgh,,Scotland-,Nov,20,,2021:,The,Sign,For,Zara,Store

Zara has made its debut in <a href="https://completelyretail.co.uk/shops-to-rent/bath">Bath</a> after opening in the city's open-air shopping destination <a href="https://completelyretail.co.uk/scheme/southgate-bath-4668">SouthGate</a>.



The Inditex-owned fashion retailer has taken multiple units on SouthGate Place, comprising 32,000 sq ft of space over two floors.



Zara joins the recently-opened 5,000 sq ft Goldsmith's store at SouthGate, as well as Oliver Bonas which opened earlier this year. The retailers sit alongside retailers including Lululemon, Levi's, Apple, Urban Outfitters, Franco Manca, and Comptoir Libanais.



<a href="https://news.completelyretail.co.uk/southgate-makes-two-retail-signings/">At the time of the signing</a>, Kate Lea, head of shopping centre leasing at British Land, said: “ZARA’s decision to choose SouthGate for its first store in the city is a testament to the popularity of the destination, and the work we’ve done to make the centre as attractive and engaging for customers as possible.”



The lettings have built on what was a strong first half of the year for scheme owner British Land, which saw 1 million sq ft of retail deals being signed across its portfolio.



<a href="https://completelyretail.co.uk/portfolio/BritishLand">British Land</a> and SouthGate joint owners <a href="https://completelyretail.co.uk/portfolio/Aviva">Aviva Investors </a>were advised by Cushman &amp; Wakefield.

Zara opens in Bath's SouthGate

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Wetherspoon_2_Interior_26.6.23

JD Wetherspoon has submitted revised plans for a pub in <a href="https://completelyretail.co.uk/shops-to-rent/wolverhampton">Wolverhampton</a> which would see the creation of a further 25 hotel rooms and another floor.



<a href="https://news.completelyretail.co.uk/wetherspoon-submits-plans-for-wolverhampton-hotel/">The group's earlier proposals for The Moon Under Water</a> - which were approved in September - looked to redevelop the pub to create a 72-bedroom hotel as well as a heritage centre.



The pub giant had originally secured planning permission from the local council in March 2020 to add an additional floor to the pub as part of wider developments.



If approved by the City of Wolverhampton Council, the revised proposals will also see the creation of an additional 21 hotel rooms in a newly-built fourth floor, plus an additional four rooms in an extension over an existing flat roof.



The 40,000 sq ft space which sits above The Moon Under Water has lain empty for over 33 years after being home to an old Co-op store.



The building, which sits opposite the Grand Theatre, is set to benefit from a redevelopment of Lichfield Street laid out in Wolverhampton Council’s centre transformation programme.



City of Wolverhampton Council leader, councillor Stephen Simkins, said: “This revised planning application from Wetherspoon to develop additional hotel rooms on top of its already extensive original proposal demonstrates great confidence in our city and will breathe new life into an empty space at the heart of the city centre."

Wetherspoon adds more rooms to its Wolverhampton revamp plans

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NB_Team pic

Savills has acquired Central <a href="https://completelyretail.co.uk/shops-to-rent/london">London</a>-based retail agency and lease consultancy firm Nash Bond.



Nash Bond - which was founded in 2003 by Mark Nash and Andrew Bond - has 11 directors and specialises in the retail, food and beverage, and leisure sectors.



The firm works in both an agency and lease advisory capacity, with clients including major London estates such as Cadogan, Crown, and Portman, as well as developers and real estate investment trusts including Shaftesbury Capital, British Land, Crosstree, Great Portland Estates, Argent, Landsec, and Lendlease. Nash Bond also advises many UK and international funds, developers, and private investors as well as retailers.



The Nash Bond acquisition will allow Savills to enhance the strength of its 20-strong Central London retail business, whilst enabling it to expand its global retail offer to clients. Savills' Central London team has recently closed deals with <a href="https://news.completelyretail.co.uk/uniqlo-lines-up-oxford-street-opening-and-scottish-debut/">Uniqlo</a> and <a href="https://news.completelyretail.co.uk/footasylum-set-for-oxford-street-flagship/">Footasylum</a> on Oxford Street, and Gucci on Bond Street.



Nash Bond will be rebranded to Savills with immediate effect.



James Sparrow, chief executive officer of Savills UK and EMEA, said: “We are thrilled to have acquired this fantastic business that we have long admired with such a great reputation.  We have seen a significant recovery in the Central London retail markets.  We have always known these markets would come back and with a strong international prime global retail network we are looking forward to expanding our service for clients in London.”



Cameron Scott, chief executive officer and head of agency at Nash Bond, added: ‘’This is an incredibly exciting opportunity for our business to join the existing Savills team to bring greater exposure both in the UK and internationally for both firms’ existing landlord and retailer client base, as well as realising an unrivalled opportunity to provide best in class service across the London market.”

Savills completes Nash Bond acquisition

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Hank's Dirty

Vegan restaurant Hank's Dirty has opened at <a href="https://completelyretail.co.uk/scheme/castle-quarter-norwich-3840">Castle Quarter</a> in <a href="https://completelyretail.co.uk/shops-to-rent/norwich">Norwich</a> on a permanent basis.



The operator has taken a six-year lease for a 2,007 sq ft unit in the Timberhill Terrace area of the Norwich scheme.



Hank's Dirty was one of the original operators at the Norwich scheme's Castle Social market hall concept when it opened in autumn 2022. The company behind the operator will retain use of the original unit to open the first outlet for its Top Dawgs &amp; Desserts concept.



The signing follows <a href="https://news.completelyretail.co.uk/leisure-repositioning-drives-norwich-scheme-footfall-surge/">a period of record performance for Castle Quarter following its repositioning towards an increased leisure and entertainment offer</a>. Notable additions to the scheme's leisure offering include Boom Battle Bar, Putt Putt Noodle, Escape Hunt, and Vector VR. In addition, the eight-screen Vue Cinema has committed to a major refurbishment for 2024.



Will Ashdown, asset manager at RivingtonHark, said: “The decision by Hank’s Dirty to open a standalone restaurant at Castle Quarter is hugely exciting, and reflects the success it has seen in its year within Castle Social. When we launched Castle Social, we envisioned it being a destination in its own right, incubating new concepts and giving opportunities to exciting pop-ups. The progression of Hank’s Dirty to permanent presence is the perfect illustration of this process, and demonstrates the success of Castle Quarter following its pivot towards social, leisure and lifestyle.”

Vegan restaurant Hank's Dirty opens permanently in Norwich

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Winter Gardens

<a href="https://news.completelyretail.co.uk/?s=colliers">Colliers</a> has been appointed by Thanet District Council to find a suitable development partner to help regenerate <a href="https://completelyretail.co.uk/shops-to-rent/margate">Margate's</a> Winter Gardens.



The 51,000 sq ft Grade II-listed entertainment venue closed its doors in August 2022, however Thanet District Council has expressed a desire to bring Winter Gardens back to its former glory.



The venue - which has hosted the likes of The Beatles and Laurel and Hardy in its storied history - is set to be redeveloped as part of the council's £22.2m Margate Town Deal programme.



The seafront venue comprises two performance spaces; the main hall has a capacity of 2,150 standing people whilst the Queen's Hall can host 600.



Paul Bugeja from Colliers Licensed &amp; Leisure team said: “The council is seeking a partner which can honour the history of this venue, while also bringing it up to date and making it inviting to residents as well as visitors to Margate. We have seen how exciting regeneration plans for landmark buildings such as the Eastbourne Winter Gardens and De La Warr Pavilion, Bexhill have revitalised coastal towns. We’re looking to secure a partnership which has a vision to reignite the entertainment offering in Margate and deliver on the expectations of the local community.”



Councillor Rick Everitt, leader of Thanet District Council, said: “We recognise how important this project is to local residents. I am optimistic that this partnership will lead to Thanet District Council realising its ambition to create a reinvigorated cultural and heritage landmark that will enrich the community and attract visitors for years to come.”

Colliers seeks regeneration partner for Margate's Winter Gardens

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London,-,August,6:,Carnaby,Street,,Famous,Shopping,Street,With

Shaftesbury Capital completed £82m worth of asset disposals between July and mid-November, as the real estate investment trust (REIT) reports a strong start to the Christmas period.



The REIT - which manages a portfolio across <a href="https://completelyretail.co.uk/shops-to-rent/london">London's</a> West End - said the asset disposals were 12% ahead of its June 2023 valuation, with 5% of its total portfolio value initially identified to be recycled.



During the period, Shaftesbury Capital saw high footfall across its West End estate, with customers reporting sales in aggregate 12% above 2022 levels and 16% ahead of 2019 levels.



The REIT also said demand for its properties had remained high, with leasing activity in the second half of the year totalling 220 transactions worth £15.6m worth of rent.



In the year to date, Shaftesbury Capital completed 440 leasing transactions, representing £30.2m worth of rent. The REIT said that vacancy rates had remained low at only 2.2%.



Ian Hawksworth, Shaftesbury Capital chief executive, said: "Our excellent performance has continued into the second half, with a strong start to the Christmas trading period. The West End is one of the most vibrant global destinations with an unrivalled concentration of entertainment and cultural attractions. Footfall remains high and customer sales are tracking 12 per cent ahead of last year. There is excellent leasing momentum across all uses with 220 leasing transactions signed so far in the second half, at rents on average six per cent ahead of June 2023 ERV and a strong leasing pipeline.



"Despite the uncertain macroeconomic backdrop, our prime West End portfolio continues to demonstrate its resilience and appeal. Backed by our strong balance sheet, we look forward with confidence with a focus on delivering further growth and attractive returns as the leading central London mixed-use REIT."



In August, <a href="https://news.completelyretail.co.uk/shaftesbury-capital-has-excellent-momentum-following-merger/">the REIT reported excellent "momentum" following its inception</a>, when Shaftesbury and Capco merged in March.

Shaftesbury Capital completes £82m of asset disposals

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