BGP connects Episode 5

“Houses close to streets full of independent retailers sell for 20% more” evening standard

On our next instalment of #BGPconnects Evie North speaks to Chris Daly of Greenland U.K.

They discuss the rising trend of London Neighbourhoods, the impact covid-19 had on this trend and more specifically on the evolution of The Ram Quarter.

Following the success of their pop up on Duke of York Square, the Lincolnshire born sustainable jewellery brand Daniella Draper have now opened their first standalone store in London on the King’s Road.

“The whole team are so excited to have opened in London and particularly on the King’s Road. To be able to have a physical presence in the South of England is really important to us.”

Many have questioned whether there will be a shift in focus for independent brands post Covid and whether the importance of having a presence in the capital will diminish. The last 12 months has shown that this certainly isn’t the case and the Daniella Draper opening further demonstrates the importance of independent brands having a bricks and mortar presence in London.

Jamie Orme acted on behalf of Daniella Draper, please get in touch with our tenant rep team – Jamie Orme & Thea Rowe if you would like help finding your first site.

As a company we cover a number of affluent neighbourhood instructions, please get in touch with the leasing team if you would like further information.

Back in the height of lockdown in 2020, BGP relet one of the most prominent restaurants in Central London, the old Carluccio’s in St Christopher’s Place. Whilst a full-scale lockdown of the hospitality industry might not have been the best time to let a West End restaurant, the flight to prime had commenced and interest was high.

Now 18 months later, the hard work has paid off and Isola, a bespoke concept from San Carlo is open and looks magnificent at the heart of the Piazza. Working with Marcello Distefano and his team has been a wonderful experience, resulting in a true partnership of ideas in terms of design and concept.

This 220 cover restaurant features a massive 50 cover alfresco terrace in the heart of St Christopher’s Place, catering for its diverse catchment of office tenants, West End shoppers and tourists.  A soft palette of yellows, greens, and pinks, shine through in the design, which combined with the extensive shellfish and sea food display, transports you immediately back to a relaxed summer holiday vibe.

Emily Dumbell and Tracey Pollard, worked with Victoria Shields of BMO to secure this letting, whilst San Carlo Restaurant Group were advised by Sammy Weinbaum of CDG leisure.

Bruce Gillingham Pollard are sole agents for the restaurant and retail lettings at St Christopher’s Place.

“What mental health needs is more sunlight, more candle, more unashamed conversation” Glenn Close.

This week, Thea Rowe speaks to Maryam Meddin, founder of The Soke. The Soke is a private wellness clinic, striving to make mental wellbeing more accessible and more comfortable for all. Thea and Maryam discussed Maryam’s journey towards creating The Soke, mental health and mindfulness.

Thea Rowe is The Soke’s sole retained agent.

At the beginning of 2020, I was lucky enough to visit Hong Kong’s K11 MUSEA  ‘Art Mall’ concept. Opened in 2019, the ‘art mall/museum’ overlooks Victoria Harbour, and the beautiful red sail junk boats which are so iconic to Hong Kong. It sits amongst the busy Tsim Sha Tsui district, overshadowed by skyscrapers. On first impression it didn’t stand out, sitting well beneath the spectacular skyline, but as soon as I entered, I was totally blown away.

The centre features a mix of 250 retailers, 70 restaurants, 40 artist installations, and a broad array of educational programs. Some of my favourites were: an interactive Golden Goose store, which distresses sneakers whilst you wait, the Loewe store with the most incredible shop fit out, and an Agnes b. store, serving tiny little cardigan shaped cream cakes. The best part was the atrium, which looked almost as if it had been sculptured out of wood, spiralling up towards a huge glass globe, which was suspended over the entire mall.

I’m not sure ‘mall’ is the right word to describe K11 ‘MUSEA’. It’s a far cry from our traditional British shopping destinations such as Westfield or the Trafford Centre. I didn’t think anything in Britain could compare until I watched a video this week on ‘The Outernet’, Consolidated Land’s new project on Denmark Street. Their ideas and concepts reminded me so much of K11, the way they incorporate history, art and culture within a cutting-edge retail and leisure environment. Placemaking and creating a destination is so important with modern developments, and I can already tell that ‘The Outernet’ will be a really exciting cultural hub.

April 2021: Nearly a decade since it was last enjoyed, a historic site in the heart of Shoreditch reopens under new independent ownership. Within the former Victorian ‘Great Eastern Light’ power station, long- standing Hackney residents Morten Jensen, Darren Collins and chef Johnnie Collins present The Light Bar. With  lovingly  restored  interiors  set  across  three  floors,  the  new  restaurant,  bar  and  outdoor  terrace promises to become a social and culinary destination for good times.

Located on Shoreditch High Street, the site has been an icon of London’s East End since it was built in 1893  to  generate  electricity  for  the  UK’s  first  powered  train  station,  Liverpool  Street’s  Great  Eastern Railways. Due to its pioneering role in the development of electric power, the building is said to have inspired Shoreditch’s original motto, adopted in 1900: ‘More Light, More Power’. Converted into a bar in 2000  by  previous  owners  Oliver  Williamson,  James  Goff  and  Ben  Chesterfield,  ‘The  Light’  helped Shoreditch become famous for nightlife and dining. Despite its success, the venue was forced to close in 2014 when redevelopment plans threatened to tear it down. After a successful campaign to #savethelight, led by Oliver and thousands of locals and several celebrities including artist Tracey Emin, the building is now protected as part of Hackney’s Shoreditch Conservation Area.

Morten Jensen says, “This   place   is   an   institution,  and deserved to be preserved and enjoyed by all. From the building’s original working class history to its more recent guise as one of the first original bars in the early 2000’s that helped make Shoreditch the place it is now. I’ve always loved this building, and have fought passionately to open the concept, even more  so through a global pandemic. I’m so proud to be launching our new concept here.”

Rupert Bentley Smith acted on behalf of the Landlord’s Brookfield.

St Peters, Burton on Trent – purchased for £5.50 million reflecting a net initial yield of 8.65%, let to Dunelm, Pets at Home and Halfords (WAULT 5 years);

Four Pools, Evesham – purchased for £11.40 million reflecting a net initial yield of 8.40%, let to The Range, Halfords, Pets at Home and Pure Gym. Also 2 lettings to complete to Subway and Greggs.

The acquisition reflects an increasingly active out of town market for smaller schemes (sub £15m), let to “COVID-successful” tenants, with strong occupier credit and relatively low/re-based rents.

For further information, please contact Andrew McGregor