Queensberry Real Estate has secured 10,000 sq ft of new lettings to popular high street brands including Jack & Jones, The Body Shop, Wagamama and Tiger for Friars Walk, Newport – the 390,000 sq ft city centre regeneration scheme that will launch on 12 November.
Danish retailer Tiger is taking 3,000 sq ft and describes itself as a variety store with a difference, providing stylish products in a fun and pleasant environment. It specialises in high quality, exceptional value items that are practical, fun, and decorative and encourage creativity – from homeware, kitchenware, stationery, toys and hobby items.
Jack & Jones originated in Norway and is now one of Europe’s leading producers of menswear, with more than one thousand stores in 38 countries. The retailer has agreed a deal for 2,500 sq ft of space at Friars Walk where it will stock its full range of five unique brands: Jack & Jones Vintage Clothing, Premium by Jack & Jones, Originals by Jack & Jones, Core by Jack & Jones and Jack & Jones tech.
Global beauty brand, The Body Shop, which describes itself as a brand built on making people feel good – face, body and soul, is taking 1,400 sq ft. Founded in 1976 in Brighton, England, by Anita Roddick, The Body Shop offers high-quality, naturally-inspired skincare, hair care and make-up produced ethically and sustainably. The Body Shop pioneered the philosophy that business can be a force for good and after being acquired by L’Oréal in 2006, it is scaling up its vision. The Body Shop has more than 3,000 stores in more than 60 countries.
These new fashion and beauty brands will be a further addition to the line-up at the scheme, which is anchored by a 95,000 sq ft Debenhams and boasts other leading brands including Next, H&M, Top Shop, New Look and River Island.
In addition, Wagamama has confirmed it will be taking 3,100 sq ft of leisure space next to Prezzo and GBK – bringing the restaurant section to fully let. Wagamama will bring a different offer to Friars Walk, and its popular Japanese ramen bars and Asian menu continues to be popular with consumers. The new signing will be a further addition to the scheme’s comprehensive leisure offer which boasts an eight screen Cineworld multiplex cinema and restaurants brands including Loungers, Las Iguanas, Le Bistrot Pierre, GBK, TGI Fridays, Prezzo, Nandos, Frankie & Bennys, and Chiquitos.
Stuart Harris, Commercial Director and Co-Founder at Queensberry Real Estate, said: “With just less than six weeks to go until we open, we’ve secured yet more really good quality shops and restaurants for Friars Walk. We expect to be 85 per cent let on opening, with six additional retail and leisure brands in the pipeline and negotiations currently taking place on the remaining space. Newport is making a huge leap up the retail rankings with other shops and restaurants also opening in other areas of the city as well as new hotels, houses, flats, and offices. There is a real buzz of excitement around the city at the moment and it’s a real privilege to be part of the city’s renaissance.”
Friars Walk serves as the focal point of the comprehensive programme of regeneration underway in Newport, which has become one of Wales’ fastest growing cities. The hotly anticipated scheme will make Newport a top 100 UK retail destination and provide an estimated 1,200 jobs within the shops and restaurants. The scheme boasts 350 parking spaces and a major new bus station interchange.
Kate Methuen-Ley, Director, Tiger Wales, added: “Friars Walk will be a really exciting and vibrant addition to Newport and Tiger is really proud to bring its everyday magic to the city. I started my retail career as a Saturday girl in a store in Newport in the ‘90’s, so it’s great to see this investment in the retail landscape of the city and the confidence it is generating with independent as well as national retailers.”
“The Newport store will be a great addition to our South Wales portfolio which includes Cwmbran, Cardiff, Swansea and Carmarthen. We’ll be creating 12 new jobs plus temporary Christmas positions. We really think Tiger can add something different to the retail offers in the city centre, appealing to all ages. We sell everything from spices to candles to stationery to homeware and more, all with a Scandinavian twist, there’ll be something to suit everyone’s tastes and things you’d never even thought of.”
The letting agents for Friars Walk are Lunson Mitchenall, Cooke & Arkwright, Nick Young & Co and CBRE.
