• Søstrene Grene has secured a 4,850 sq ft space at the entrance to Outlet Shopping at The O2. The retailer will extend the destination’s home and gifting offer, delivering its affordable, comprehensive Scandinavian-inspired stock spanning homewares, small furniture, lifestyle products and craft essentials. This store is due to open in May and will be Søstrene Grene’s first location within an outlet destination, demonstrating the continued appeal of the asset class to both consumers and brands.
• Søstrene Grene will be joined by occasion-led menswear retailer, Suit Direct, which has signed for a 1,827 sq ft store. The brand will stock a range of men’s suits and accessories, including third-party brands such as Marc Darcy, Antique Rogue and an exclusive Ted Baker casualwear selection. Suit Direct will also host free one-to-one styling appointments, offering expert advice for customers preparing for key occasions such as weddings, proms, and the races.
• Alongside interest and confidence from new brands in the scheme, New Balance, one of Outlet Shopping at The O2’s longstanding tenants, has recently upsized into a new and improved space at the destination, fitted out with the brand’s updated store concept. The footwear and apparel retailer has increased its store footprint to 3,129 sq ft, a direct response to the strong and sustained consumer demand for athleisure and sportswear.

This flurry of activity coincides with several category uplifts at Outlet Shopping at The O2 over the first quarter of 2026, with accessories up an impressive 45 percent, alongside footwear and homeware up 6 percent and 3 percent respectively vs Q1 2025.

Louisa Dalgleish, Leasing Director at Outlet Shopping at The O2, commented: “Following a record-breaking 2025 and continued category growth so far in 2026, we’re incredibly excited to see this success translating into increased interest from leading brands looking to secure a presence here. Søstrene Grene and Suit Direct bring exciting new dimensions to our already comprehensive offer, demonstrating the ongoing evolution and continued diversification of Outlet Shopping at The O2. As well as welcoming new brands, we’re thrilled to see existing, longstanding tenants reinvesting and reaffirming their confidence in our scheme and its future, with New Balance’s upsized store as the latest example of this.”

Mikkel Grene, Group CEO and Co-owner of Søstrene Grene, also said: “Søstrene Grene’s expansion throughout the UK and London is something we’re very proud of. Outlet Shopping at The O2 delivers the perfect location for our brand, giving a sense of hygge and Scandinavian charm to this London community. We know that the new store will complement the tenant mix and will allow shoppers to feel creative inspiration while escaping the everyday.”

This news follows the arrival of Maki & Ramen for its first London opening, bringing its accessible, high-quality Asian food offer to The O2’s Entertainment District.

KLM and CBRE represent Outlet Shopping at The O2.

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Queensgate Peterborough has announced that Australian-owned coffee and all-day dining brand Jamaica Blue has signed to join the centre’s expanding F&B lineup.

Jamaica Blue, operated by Foodco, will occupy a 1,270 sq ft prominent location in the Upper Mall. The brand will serve speciality coffee drinks, using its signature Jamaica Blue Mountain coffee blend. This will be complemented by a fresh, made-to-order food menu featuring indulgent brunch dishes, gourmet sandwiches, and handcrafted cakes and sweet treats.

Ed Ginn, Director of Investment Management at Invesco Real Estate, said: “F&B leasing momentum has been strong so far in 2026, and Jamaica Blue represents another strategic addition to our lineup. We are always looking for ways to elevate the customer experience, focusing on complementary brands that bring something different to the centre. This signing underscores our commitment to delivering a vibrant and high-quality tenant mix that meets the needs of both Peterborough residents and visitors.”

Michael Arbuckle, Managing Director at Foodco United Kingdom, commented: “Queensgate offers the ideal blend of consistently high footfall and desirable brands, aligning well with our UK growth strategy. Queensgate customers will be able to enjoy our signature all-day food menu, offering the perfect lunch spot in the centre. This signing represents the latest step in expanding Jamaica Blue, enabling us to showcase our speciality coffee to a broader UK audience.”

Sovereign Centros from CBRE acts as the appointed asset manager for owner Invesco Real Estate, while CBRE and Time Retail Partners are the letting agents for Queensgate.

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This licenced RISE concept marks the next evolution of the high-growth business with it set to roll out across three upcoming openings with the name and bespoke-designed brand experience. ‘RISE by Cornish Bakery’ represents a next-level sector development in product, design, service experience, community engagement and trading hours, and the concept will be rolled out in larger properties in key locations across the UK.

The Betws-y-Coed bakery, which opens tomorrow is the first confirmed ‘RISE by Cornish Bakery’ location. Seating up to 166 people inside and outside, the property is 2,500 sq ft in size with a bespoke design. Located at the entrance to Eryri National Park, it has been designed with the theme of the ‘bakery of anticipation’ as customers enter the beautiful park. The bespoke interiors respect its location, with works by local designers including hand-made local woven Welsh tapestries as wall hangings.

The new licensed RISE bakery in Wales will expand traditional coffee and bakery offerings to include small plates designed for breakfast, brunch, lunch and afternoon/early evening dining.  Guests can enjoy Cornish Bakery’s full product range including its Cornish pasties and sausage rolls, both lauded by The Times’ food reviewer Giles Coren, alongside the crafted and baked viennoiseries and cakes and coffee from the Cornwall-based B-Corp Origin Coffee.

The new RISE range of small plates will include Chorizo and Shakshuka baked eggs, with tomatoes, peppers, onion and spices and free-range eggs from St. Ewe Eggs in Cornwall.  Cornish Huevos Rancheros, Cornish Bakery’s own take on the Mexican dish will feature black beans, tomatoes, guacamole and free-range St. Ewe Eggs.  A new Crab Gratin, with dauphinoise potato, Cornish cheddar cheese, lemon and parsley will be served alongside a Cornish Ploughman’s sharing plate for two, featuring ham hock and piccalilli terrine, Cornish Bakery’s farmhouse sausage roll, Cornish cheddar, chutney, gherkins and grapes. All small plates can be washed down with Cornish beers from Harbour Brewery and wines from Camel Valley Vineyard alongside the enhanced menu.

Cornish Bakery Managing Director, Mat Finch said: “This is a very special day for us as we open our first ever Cornish Bakery in Wales. Adding to that, this is our first ever RISE by Cornish Bakery concept bakery – so there is so much to be excited about. We’ve been looking for the right places and spaces in Wales for a long time and this expansive building in Betws-y-Coed offered a rare opportunity to respectfully enhance a stunning property for both locals and visitors. We’re especially excited to introduce our RISE by Cornish Bakery concept here, a flexible space that the local community can use alongside a unique hospitality experience.”

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The Metrocentre Partnership has announced that Inditex’s new-to-the-UK brand Lefties will join Metrocentre’s best-in-class retail line-up, making it one of the retailer’s first three UK stores. It also represents Metrocentre’s second deal with Inditex in Q1 2026, showcasing strong momentum across its fashion offer with the group.

Set to occupy a central unit at the interchange between Red and Green Mall on Town Square, Lefties will serve as a key anchor within Metrocentre’s dedicated fashion hub. The store will stock the brand’s trend-led collections for Women, Men, Teen Girls, Kids, Baby, Newborn, Home, Accessories and Footwear. Due to open in the winter of 2026, the store will represent the Spanish fashion retailer’s third UK location, and its first in the North East, strengthening Metrocentre’s position as the region’s leading fashion destination.

Lefties was founded in 1999, and the concept has been developing ever since, with the launch of its own collections over a decade ago. The brand has its own headquarters outside Barcelona, including commercial and design teams, who aim to bring accessible quality fashion to its customers.

Ben Cox, Director at Sovereign Centros from CBRE, Asset Managers of Metrocentre, commented: “We’re proud to confirm that Lefties are the latest exciting new entrant to commit toMetrocentre. As one of the first Lefties stores in the UK, this is another major endorsement of Metrocentre as a key location for international brands investing in UK retail. Lefties’ trend-savvy offer will be a compelling addition to our retail mix, and this signing, once again, reflects the dominance and appeal of our scheme to both national and international retailers. With our consistent footfall, extensive catchment, and quality retail offer, we continue to stand out as the leading destination in the region”

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The newly launched stores strengthen OurCoop’s presence across key catchments, with four FoodCoop locations opened across Leicestershire (Desford), Buckinghamshire (Wavendon), Gloucestershire (Leckhampton), and Merseyside (Rainhill), alongside two new Co-op Travel branches in Lichfield and Cheltenham.

Together, the openings represent a continued focus on developing a modern, community-led convenience format, combining strong fresh and local ranges with an in-store experience tailored to neighbourhood needs.

Each FoodCoop store has been designed to deliver operational efficiency alongside community value. Features include solar panels, bird boxes, EV charging stations, community gardens, and bike maintenance stations, alongside local partnerships from the outset. Each opening has been marked with a ribbon cutting by prominent local figures, including local Parish members, school children, and heads of local charities and organisations.

The rollout has also supported local economies, creating more than 50 jobs across the six locations and establishing new retail hubs designed to drive footfall and repeat visits.

With a combined estate of almost 500 stores and a membership base of more than one million members, OurCoop continues to develop its customer proposition – offering exclusive deals for members, community reinvestment, and a democratic voice in how the Society is run, within an increasingly competitive convenience sector.

Debbie Robinson, Chief Executive Officer at OurCoop, said: “As a co-operative business, making a positive difference is at the heart of how we operate. Our scale and breadth mean we can support our members every day and throughout life’s big moments, generating greater value through our businesses and reinvesting for the long-term.

That’s the power of co-operation, a system where participation creates benefit and the more Members participate and trade with us, the greater the impact we can have together. The opening of these new stores will only support this further, deepening our roots in our local towns and villages for years to come.”

OurCoop is a member-owned co-operative Society, created by bringing together three established co-operatives – Central Co-op, Midcounties Co-operative and Chelmsford Star Co-operative – to create greater impact for members, colleagues and communities.

Beyond its own estate, OurCoop continues to support the growth of the movement, helping to establish new co-operatives across the UK – ranging from community pubs, shops and innovative energy and care initiatives – through funding and by connecting start-ups with more established co-ops for guidance and mentorship. OurCoop also plays a leading role internationally through its Our Malawi Partnership, which supports smallholder farmers and co-operatives through trade, not aid.

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Lane7 Group has secured its 30th site, with a new boutique bowling venue set to open in Exeter in early 2027.

The new location in the city’s Guildhall Shopping Centre comprises 27,000 sq ft across two floors and marks another significant milestone in the continued growth of the Lane7 brand, which has sites across most major cities in the UK.

Lane7 has become synonymous with reshaping tenpin bowling experiences in city centre locations, delivering a premium combination of daytime family-friendly and night time grown-up experiences.

The new site in the middle of Exeter is expected to create 30 new jobs. The landlord, Exeter City Council, was represented by Jackson Criss, while Torridon acted for Lane7.

Managing director, Gavin Hughes, said: “We’ve been desperate to open in Exeter for some time, so we’re thrilled to have secured an expansive two-floor site in the heart of a buzzing city centre in the south west of England.

It’s a competitive market, but Exonians know how to have a good time, and we’re confident we’re bringing a distinctive, unique and premium experience to the city’s entertainment and night time scene. We can’t wait to get bowling in Exeter.”

Since opening its first Lane7 venue in Newcastle Upon Tyne in late 2013, the brand has grown significantly, opening multiple sites in cities like London, Birmingham and Newcastle, with an additional footprint that includes Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Manchester, Liverpool, Bristol and Milton Keynes. It recently expanded its operations in Europe with new openings in Berlin and two sites in Dublin.

The Lane7 Group also owns the LevelX, Gutterball and ML7 brands that have a combined half-dozen sites across the UK. It recently announced plans for further expansion with further cross-brand site openings in Leeds, Glasgow and Edinburgh.

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Located at 8 Marylebone High Street, London, the boutique sits on one of the capital’s most elegant shopping streets and signals a significant step in strengthening Marella’s presence in the UK market.

Spanning approximately 1,410 sq ft, the store has been designed to reflect the brand’s modern Italian aesthetic, blending contemporary design with Marella’s signature sense of femininity and refinement. Clean architectural lines, mirrored and polished surfaces, and carefully curated spaces create a welcoming retail environment that places the customer experience at its centre.

The interior palette is built around neutral tones inspired by different skin tones, celebrating the diversity of the brand’s feminine universe. At the heart of the design is Nude Pink, Marella’s signature shade, chosen to symbolise femininity and elegance.

The store will feature the LightMass^ lighting collection, designed by the London-based design studio Raw Edges. Minimal in form, weight, and environmental impact, the single-material lights align perfectly with the boutique’s refined aesthetic, offering an innovative approach to interior design.

Dedicated display areas spotlight accessories including bags, sunglasses and shoes, while a mix of sophisticated materials and digital elements enhances the in-store journey, creating a seamless Marella collections are also available online at marella.com.

With more than 200 mono-brand stores and 1,400 multi-brand locations worldwide, the London opening marks a significant step in Marella’s global growth strategy. The Marylebone opening follows the brand’s international expansion and its strategy of establishing a presence in Europe’s key fashion locations, a path that has already seen recent openings in Paris and Munich.

Further details on the official opening date will be announced soon.

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INITIO Parfums Privés has launched its first standalone boutique in the UK, in a 246 sq ft space in Covent Garden’s iconic Market Building, following on from the success of its high-end retail concessions in department stores. Founded in 2015, the French perfume house is known for its functional fragrances, or “neuroscents”, created to positively influence emotional wellbeing, having collaborated with DSM-Firmenich to design scientifically-supported scents.

INITIO Parfums Privés joins an array of fragrance houses in Covent Garden, including Parfums de Marly, which recently upsized and relocated to James Street for a much larger presence in the area; Byredo, which opened a second store in Covent Garden following the success of its Seven Dials space; and MATIERE PREMIERE, which launched its debut UK flagship location on King Street in February.

William Oliver, Director of Retail & Restaurant Leasing at Shaftesbury Capital, commented: “Our leasing strategy is focused on curating best-in-class brands that enhance the district’s global appeal, with beauty a key pillar for Covent Garden. The arrival of INITIO Parfums Privés reinforces Covent Garden’s position as London’s leading luxury beauty destination, one we have carefully shaped, where a growing cluster of premium brands continues to drive strong demand and interest.” 

Patrice Béliard, CEO of INITIO Parfums Privés and Parfums de Marly, added: “The decision to launch our first UK standalone store in Covent Garden reflects both the success of our existing concessions and the exceptional performance of Parfums de Marly in the UK. The new INITIO Parfums Privés store will provide our customers with a more in-depth and elevated experience, and with Covent Garden’s impressive luxury beauty line-up, we’re in fantastic company.”

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Frasers Group plc has opened a new Sports Direct store in Kingston upon Thames, further strengthening its London presence. Spanning 31,000 sq ft across two floors, Sports Direct Kingston offers a comprehensive selection of sports and lifestyle clothing, footwear and equipment for men, women and children – reinforcing Sports Direct’s position as the UK’s leading sports retailer.

Lauren Barrie, Chief Retail Officer at Frasers Group commented, “Sports Direct Kingston is another example of how we’re elevating the UK’s sports and lifestyle retail offering. Delivering immersive retail destinations that bring together global brands and specialist services under one roof. This opening is another important step in delivering our Elevation Strategy.”

The store features key global brand partners including Nike, adidas, New Balance and PUMA, offering products across multiple sports and fitness categories. Customers can explore Sports Direct’s signature Running, Football and Outdoor concepts, as well as specialist sports zones. The store further distinguishes itself through its partnership with Wilson, featuring a dedicated instore tennis racket restringing service – the first of its kind within a Sports Direct location. In addition, the store brings together brands from across the Frasers Group’s portfolio, including GAME and USC.

This opening builds on the Group’s bold retail expansion and ambitions, and forms part of its broader plans to continue evolving its store portfolio in the UK and internationally.

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Shaftesbury Capital has announced that self-pour wine bar, Vagabond Wines, is set to openits largest flagship venue to date, in the heart of Soho at 14 – 16 Ganton Street, also marking the brand’s West End debut.

Vagabond, under the Majestic Wine Group umbrella, is set to launch its 6,300 sq ft space at 14 – 16 Ganton Street this summer, bringing its interactive, discovery‑led wine experience to Soho. Designed as a premium exploration space, the venue will combine winemaking-inspired design with Vagabond’s signature self-pour experience. Guests will have the choice of over 120 wines by the glass, some from grapes grown within two hours of London, championing local sourcing, sustainability, and British wine innovation. It will also offer a curated menu of seasonal small plates and nibbles, built for sharing and celebrating the art of wine and food pairing.

Vagabond will join a host of best-in-class wine bars in Soho, bringing a fresh, experiential drink-led hospitality offer to the neighbourhood, complementing its world-class restaurants.

Emma Matus, Head of Restaurant Leasing at Shaftesbury Capital, said: “Vagabond’s experiential concept is an ideal match for Soho, appealing to our broad demographic of visitors and perfectly complementing our dynamic, ever-evolving food and drink scene. Like its fellow wine bars in Soho, Vagabond delivers a unique, interactive experience that suits the West End right down to the ground.”

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