Landsec has agreed more than 25,000 sq ft of leasing deals across its properties in Victoria, SW1, citing growing demand for retail and hospitality from office workers and tourists returning to the area.
Incipio Group has signed a deal for 10,100 sq ft for its eighth dining concept, The Palm House, at Nova’s former Aster site. The group, which operates Pergola and Lost in Brixton, will occupy two floors with a Miami-themed venue. Spaces will include a Miami clubhouse, private dining rooms and an immersive Cuban-themed ‘hangout’.
Social enterprise Change Please will take up 560 sq ft for a café at Cardinal Place. In Victoria, it has partnered with charities including The Passage, Single Homeless Project and Cyrenians to provide support for the local community.
Five Guys will open a 4,000 sq ft restaurant in Cardinal Place, as it seeks to step up its UK expansion plans, while Piri-Piri chicken chain Casa do Frango will occupy 4,500 sq ft at Nova Food.
Landsec said the deals follow a series of retail deals in the area, including athleisure brand Sweaty Betty, which opened a 2,250 sq ft store earlier in the summer, and Barclays Bank, which has taken just under 4,000 sq ft.
The owner would not disclose further details on lease terms.
Nik Porter, head of retail brand account management at Landsec, said: “Over the past few months, we’ve seen sustained demand for space across Nova and Cardinal Place. At both locations, our brand partners benefit from the high levels of tourism in the surrounding areas, plus a strong catchment of office workers and residents, cementing Victoria as the go-to destination for brands looking to expand within the capital.
“Thanks to our new strategy, we’re well positioned to work with brands who are looking to grow, helping them to drive their performance and creating value for their businesses as well as the local economy.”
Ed Devenport, chief executive of Incipio, said: “As our footprint grows, we’re looking to partner with businesses who understand the value of working together to deliver vibrant, successful spaces so that we can continue to bring our elevated dining concept to new audiences.”
Cemal Ezel, founder and chief executive at Change Please, said: “Much of the support we provide is funded by the profits we make through our coffee shops, so securing the right location in a high footfall area is key.
“Our new space in the heart of central London will allow us to provide even more living wage barista roles for local people experiencing homelessness. Working with Landsec as a key partner is invaluable for our mission to grow and to support more people out of homelessness whilst providing an outstanding coffee and food offer.”
Edward Power, property acquisition manager at Five Guys, said: “We’re investing in new locations across the UK, and we identified Victoria as a priority area for us. Partnering with Landsec has allowed us to expand into another exciting London market and bring Five Guys to the thousands of people who live, work and play there.”
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