Queensberry Real Estate this week confirmed another nine lettings at its Friars Walk development in Newport, ahead of the scheme’s opening, today, 12 November 2015.
Holland and Barrett, Skechers, Zizzi, Hawkins Bazaar, EE, Supernews, Muffin Break, Greggs and a BMW pop-up store have all been confirmed for the 390,000 sq ft retail and leisure destination taking a total of 20,000 sq ft of space between them.
Stuart Harris, Director and Co-Founder of Queensberry Real Estate said: “These latest brands to sign further reinforce the great line-up of retailers and family friendly restaurants we have already confirmed for Friars Walk.”
Skechers is a footwear retailer which offers both lifestyle and performance footwear. They were founded in 1992 and is now sold in more than 120 countries.
Holland and Barrett is Europe’s leading retailers of vitamins, minerals and health supplements, selling over 1,000 different types of high quality vitamins. They also sell health food and herbal remedies with over 620 outlets over the UK and Ireland.
Zizzi, a stylish Italian restaurant chain, will join other restaurant brands including the recently announced Wagamama. This will be their third restaurant in Wales, with both others being in Cardiff.
Hawkin’s Bazaar is a British novelty gift and toy shop chain offering a range of unusual toys, gifts and gadgets. Launched in 1973 as a local toy shop, the company has grown to have 35 stores throughout the UK.
EE, which also runs Orange and T Mobile networks, is the largest digital communications company in Britain and has over 580 retail stores across the nation. It was awarded Best Network at the 2014 Mobile Choice Consumer Awards.
Supernews will bring a newsagents offer to Friars Walk to complement the other retailers and food and beverage outlets on offer.
Greggs, the largest bakery chain in the UK, will provide pasties, sandwiches, rolls and cakes to the shoppers at Friars Walk. Greggs has opened 65 shops this year, giving it 1,668 stores in total. Muffin Break, which has more than 280 stores across Australia, New Zealand, India and the UK, will provide coffee, muffins and cakes, pies and sandwiches for hungry shoppers.
Queensberry Real Estate has also embraced the modern ‘pop up’ store with the car manufacturer BMW taking a temporary space to capitalise on the opening of Friars Walk.
Friars Walk has designed to integrate in to Newport’s existing retail and leisure offer. It will bring more than 390,000 sq ft of modern, well-configured retail and leisure space with a full offer Debenhams Department Store, 35 retail units, an eight screen Cineworld multiplex cinema, 11 restaurants, 350 parking spaces and a major new bus station interchange.
On completion the scheme will provide an estimated 1,200 jobs worth around £15 million in salaries a year to the local economy. This is in addition to the jobs created during the construction phase and the potential for local companies to be involved in the supply chain of the centre, which has contributed £90million to the local economy.
Friars Walk serves as the focal point of the comprehensive programme of regeneration underway in Newport, which has become one of Wales’ fastest growing towns. Lying between the River Usk and Newport’s existing retail core, the scheme aims to reconnect a disjointed part of the cityscape and create a cohesive, attractive and accessible urban realm.
The letting agents for Friars Walk are Lunson Mitchenall, Cooke & Arkwright, Nick Young & Co and CBRE.