Popeyes drive-thru anchors 30,000 sq ft of new lettings for Coventry’s Arena Shopping Park

Arena Shopping Park, the retail and leisure destination situated in the north of Coventry, has announced over 30,000 sq ft of new lettings, including a regional debut and openings for four household name brands. Among these are two newly completed drive-thrus, reflecting the landlord’s commitment to ongoing investment and a proactive approach that drives the park’s continued growth.

• Popeyes has opened its first drive-thru location in the West Midlands, comprising 2,281 sq ft. With only four drive-thru sites in the UK, Popeyes is expanding its model across the country, with Arena Shopping Park part of the early stages of growth, a strong vote of confidence in the destination. Serving its full menu of signature Louisiana chicken, tenders, wraps, and more, and with up to 66 covers inside and 24 externally, Popeyes is a unique addition to Arena Shopping Park’s F&B offer, complementing leading operators such as Costa, Burger King, Nando’s, and M&S Café.
• Simultaneously, Five Guys has also opened a new drive-thru, combining with Popeyes to provide another strong addition to the food offer at Arena Shopping Park. It will cater to the 65 million drivers using the nearby M6 each year, people who live or work in the catchment, and those who visit the adjacent Coventry City football stadium and Arena. Five Guys has taken 3,100 sq ft, bringing its hand-cut fries and made-to-order burgers to the destination, with up to 65 additional seats inside and 36 outside the unit.
• Arena Shopping Park has also diversified its family-focused offer, with leading UK retailer Smyths Toys opening a 15,104 sq ft store within the scheme, adjacent to Next. Best known for its wide range of children’s toys, games, and entertainment products, Smyths Toys brings something new to the destination. Alongside this, The Works has also opened a 1,228 sq ft location within The Mall, delivering a range of arts, crafts, books, stationery, and toys.
• PureGym has opened an 8,730 sq ft space, the first gym operator to join Arena Shopping Park. By offering consumers a 24-hour gym service, with top-quality equipment and unlimited classes for a low monthly price, PureGym will benefit from the destination’s close proximity to the thousands of homes and businesses in North Coventry.

These new lettings coincide with Arena Shopping Park’s strong performance throughout 2025, with Savills, managing agents for the scheme, reporting that year-to-date footfall is up 1.7 percent (3.1 percent ahead of the National Average) and up 5.9 percent over the last quarter, highlighting its success as a prime retail asset in Coventry and evolution through considered asset management.

Louisa Butters, Head of Retail Asset Management UK at CBRE Investment Management, which manages Arena Shopping Park on behalf of the JV, commented: “These latest lettings reflect the strong appeal of Arena Shopping Park as a thriving, resilient destination for retailers and consumers alike. Attracting regional debuts such as Popeyes and securing leading UK retailers like Smyths Toys speaks volumes about our collaborative relationship with tenants and our strategic asset management to make Arena Shopping Park a go-to destination for Coventry.”

Tony Marshall, Head of Asset Management at Spen Hill Management, who jointly manage, added: “We have driven positive performance across both sales and footfall this year, with 2026 set to deliver even more for our visitors, following this positive evolution in tenant mix and offer. As we continue to strengthen the park’s appeal and introduce new, in-demand brands, we remain committed to enhancing the overall experience for our growing customer base and supporting long-term growth for our tenants.”

Neil Williamson, Chief Operating Officer at Popeyes UK, added: “We’re excited to be opening a new Drive-Thru restaurant at Arena Shopping Park. Locations like this give us access to a diverse catchment area with excellent connections, allowing us to serve even more of the local community. We look forward to bringing our famous Louisiana fried chicken to another part of the West Midlands this December.”

With over 20 stores, including a 140,000 sq ft Tesco flagship, a broad selection of cafés and restaurants, and smaller unit offerings within the inner mall, Arena Shopping Park is a leading retail-led destination in Coventry. It is positioned a stone’s throw from CBS Arena, which hosts Coventry City Football Club games and various live music and entertainment events. The Retail Park also boasts 1,600 free parking spaces, and Coventry Arena train station is adjacent to the site, boasting strong accessibility links for the catchment and beyond.

The asset is managed jointly by Spen Hill Management and CBRE Investment Management on behalf of the Landlord. The recent development work of the drive-thrus has been managed by Sovereign Centros from CBRE with Zeitlyn Farrell as letting agents. In addition to this, Savills are Property Managers at Coventry Arena Shopping Park, and Newsteer are the lease consultants for Arena Shopping Park.