The Metrocentre Partnership is celebrating a fast start to 2025, following a record-breaking 2024 for both sales and footfall. Proactive asset management, with nearly 300,000 sq ft of deals completed in the last 12 months, has helped to drive a 9.2% year-on-year footfall uplift year to date.

Railpen, manager of the £34bn railways pension schemes in the UK, has announced plans to redevelop 101 Bayham, its 22,000 sq ft office building in central Camden, London NW1, redefining the future of workspaces.

Merry Hill has announced that renowned restaurant group Loungers, has opened Toledo Lounge at Merry Hill, as one of the final casual dining additions to the destination’s 55,000 sq ft leisure quarter.

Peel Retail & Leisure has announced record Christmas trading at Gloucester Quays, capping off another year of considerable growth at the destination. The growth in sales in 2024 means it finished the year 6.7%[1] ahead of the national average.

Railpen, one of the largest pension managers in the UK, has announced Caledonia Park, its premium designer outlet village in Scotland, has experienced a record-breaking year for sales and performance. The destination introduced seven new brands and secured a series of long-term renewals, demonstrating the success of Railpen’s strategic asset management.

RED Construction Group, the specialist main contractor, has announced the appointment of its London division on the second phase of The Sheppard Trust’s redevelopment of the former Royal Cambridge Home site, an independent living facility located in East Molesey, Surrey.  

Merry Hill has announced a host of new signings and reinvestments at its lower retail park, covering almost 79,000 sq ft in total. National favourite coffee shop Costa and mattress and bedroom retailer Bensons for Beds have taken space at the scheme, which alongside B&M Bargains and Matalan renewing, mean that the retail park is almost fully let.

Shaftesbury Capital has announced that luxury activewear brand, Alo Yoga, has opened its new UK location in Covent Garden’s Seven Dials. Located in an anchor unit at the junction of Neal Street and Earlham Street at a key gateway to the Seven Dials neighbourhood, Alo Yoga’s opening follows a milestone year of brand commitments at Covent Garden in 2024.

centre:mk, one of the top 10 prime retail destinations in the UK, has reported a strong start to 2025, following a successful 2024, exceeding footfall benchmarks across the UK since 2014

Redical’s Victoria Leeds, one of the UK’s most premium retail destinations, is looking ahead to a successful 2025 as it bucks national trends and celebrates a strong 2024 performance with robust December and annual sales increases, record-breaking footfall figures and notable new brand signings, openings and upsizes.  

Railpen, manager of the £34bn railways pension scheme in the UK, and Socius, its development partner, have announced that Morgan Sindall has secured a £77 million contract to build Mill Yard, Railpen’s £180 million, 180,000 sq ft mixed-use campus in central Cambridge. Construction has started and is targeted for practical completion in January 2027. 

Liverpool ONE has reported its most successful festive shopping season since 2019, once again bucking national retail trends.

Tony Page’s Island Grill, a fine dining kosher restaurant, is relocating from Bayswater Road at the Royal Lancaster to a larger venue in Marylebone, opening as Tony Page Marylebone on January 14th. 

Shaftesbury Capital has announced that award-winning, global luxury makeup, fragrance and skincare brand, Charlotte Tilbury has opened a significantly upsized flagship store in Covent Garden, following its stellar success enjoyed at the destination.

The Liberty Romford, the shopping centre owned and operated by Redical, has announced that global retailer, MINISO, is the latest leading brand to join the destination’s enhanced tenant line-up. Renowned for delivering exciting shopping experiences, MINISO will unveil its new 2,270 sq ft store this spring, following a successful pop-up activation which launched in December.

Shaftesbury Capital has announced that lifestyle and apparel brand Carhartt WIP has opened their new flagship on Soho’s Brewer Street. The leading West End destination has also recently welcomed fashion retailer, Ronning, and craft jean maker Blackhorse Lane Ateliers, both on Berwick Street. 

The O2, the world’s most popular live entertainment, leisure, and retail destination, has recorded its best-ever year for sales and footfall. These standout results have been strengthened by significant leasing across the Entertainment District and Outlet Shopping at The O2, as well as the growing importance of ‘social spending’, and reaffirm The O2’s position as a market-leading retail and leisure destination in the UK.

 Liverpool ONE has announced that Inditex-owned fashion brand, Zara, has opened its significantly upsized flagship on upper and lower South John Street. The new 42,000 sq ft store is the latest example of brand investment in the destination, following a landmark year of signings that will make 2025 Liverpool ONE’s biggest year for openings since it launched in 2008.

Lendlease has confirmed the opening of anchor leisure tenant, Everyman at the Turing Building in Stratford Cross. Cultural and creative hub, Stratford Cross, has also welcomed European all-day dining restaurant, Templar, and Greek-inspired restaurant, Hera.

Merry Hill, one of the UK’s top 10 retail and leisure destinations, is celebrating a landmark year of growth, with 49 brands either opening, signing, or reinvesting in the destination. Footfall was also up, increasing by 3.9% in the last 12 months, mirrored by an increase in sales of 4%, ahead of a busy Christmas season.