The O2, the world’s most popular music, leisure and retail venue has today announced the signing of global sports and entertainment company, TOCA Social, for a 30,000 sq ft site which will host the world’s first interactive football and entertainment venue.

CACI, the consumer and location intelligence specialist, has unveiled its latest report, unlocking key insights into the ‘new consumer reality’, and how it will impact destinations, landlords, brands and operators through the rest of 2020 and beyond.

Shaftesbury has officially announced that KERB’s Seven Dials Market will be one of the first of London’s major food halls to re-open its doors on Friday 7th August.

Leading management and technology specialist for parking and visitor insight, GroupNexus, has identified that during the first week in July, motorway service station visits have now surpassed pre lockdown figures from the same period four months ago, showing an increase of 4.46%, whilst dwell time has decreased by 14% to 30mins, compared to pre-pandemic.

Longmartin Properties Ltd, a joint venture between Shaftesbury and the Mercers’ Company, has today revealed a series of striking art installations throughout The Yards to mark the launch of a new campaign, The Yards & The Bees, to welcome back visitors to Covent Garden.

Alex McCulloch, Director at CACI: “It is clear we are in a period of enormous upheaval, which if left unchecked will continue to amplify and accelerate change. There are three areas the government can help reinvigorate the high street…”

The St David’s Partnership, owners of St David’s in Cardiff, has announced the launch of a new initiative, ‘Made in Wales’, supporting local retail businesses and entrepreneurs with the opportunity to win a store and six-month lease, within the UK’s premier retail and leisure destination.

LabTech, owner of Camden Market, has announced the debut opening of Canna Power, the market’s first high-quality CBD (Cannabidiol) wholesaler, and The Indian Alley, the market’s latest modern Indian restaurant. Both operators are the first to launch in Camden Market post lockdown, within Stables Market.

Leading international software company Infor has extended its presence at Farnborough Aerospace Centre contemporary office community after agreeing a 12-year extension on 24,620 sq ft of space at the fully refurbished Ascent 1 building.

LabTech, owner of Camden Market, has announced Camden Market is set to host the UK’s first public live series of music events since the lockdown, with eight ticketed, free open-air weekend performances commencing from Saturday 25 July - 16 August, under the banner ‘Camden Unlocked’.

This weekend, LabTech, owner of Camden Market, welcomed Londoners to the bright pink rooftop of the capital’s first eco-led development at Buck Street Market. Spanning 500 sq ft the Insta-worthy millennial pink terrace, is now complete with bright pink AstroTurf, recycled pink pallet furniture, and a big LED screen, displaying the bold caption: #Pink to make you think!

Shelley Sandzer, the leading specialist leisure property agency, and Gerald Edelman, one of the leading mid-market business advisory and professional services firms in the UK, have announced the creation of a new business, Shelley Sandzer Corporate Finance (SSCF). The venture will bring together the companies’ respective expertise in property and finance to provide F&B operators with a full spectrum of services to help maximise their growth.

LabTech, owner of Camden Market, has announced its eco-led sister development Buck Street Market will officially reopen for business on July 15. Kick starting eco-friendly trading in Camden will be 80% of Buck Street’s traders, followed by its rooftop restaurants, Ethika, Spirited Craft Drinks and the first floor intimate fine-dining concept Wildflower, opening on July 18.

centre:mk has announced that Dune London, the footwear and accessories brand, launched its latest store and first to open post-lockdown, at 31 Silbury Arcade. As one of the UK’s top 10 shopping centres, centre:mk welcomes the footwear retailer alongside over 120 stores that have now reopened since 15 June, including John Lewis.

There was some consternation as to the choice of date. While July 4th leant itself to creative headlines, from Super Saturday to my personal favourite, ‘Sardine Saturday’, perhaps a Monday or Tuesday would have been better?

The largest independent toy retailer in the UK, The Entertainer, officially re-opened its doors on June 15th to its brand-new regional flagship store in Bullring.

As part of the £1m investment in the 9,000 sq ft store, The Entertainer has created immersive spaces for much-loved brands such as LEGO, Barbie, and Peppa Pig. Unique to Bullring, The Entertainer has also introduced its first Early Learning Centre shop-in-shop with a dedicated team of experts on hand to assist with any inquiries. Interactive areas have been introduced for customers to enjoy the wider selection of product ranges now available.

RPMI Railpen (Railpen), the investment manager for the £30bn railways pension schemes, and Wrenbridge have achieved planning consent for a 128,000 sq ft warehouse development on a 5.85-acre site in Waltham Cross, London, purchased in October 2019. The development will create six Grade A units ranging in size from 5,400 sq ft to 84,500 sq ft.

Up at The O2 has announced it will officially reopen its doors on 4th July offering a more intimate and memorable experience than ever before and with enhanced health and safety measures in place. In line with social distancing guidelines, each climb has been reduced to less than half the capacity previously in place (from 30 to 10 people), giving a more exclusive experience to visitors.

Shaftesbury has announced that 34 of Chinatown London’s F&B operators have opened to provide a critical mass of takeaway options for shoppers returning to the West End as the easing of the lockdown gathers momentum.