Shaftesbury has defied doomsayers by signing more than 60 new tenants in the past year.
The West End landlord said it had signed 33 new retailers, with 23 brands marking their entry into the UK, along with 29 new hospitality operators.
Retail director Samantha Bain-Mollison said: “The level and quality of demand for space from such great brands and concepts reflects the strength of our portfolio and speed of its recovery following the lifting of pandemic restrictions. The 33 new retailers to have signed this year have added something different to our villages, reinforcing their positions as exciting West End shopping destinations and contributing to London’s status as a global city for retail.”
Of the retail debutants, nine were online brands opening their first bricks-and-mortar stores, including Bloobloom, the French eyewear brand. Shaftesbury said that operators were drawn by its “carefully curated, high-profile villages” of Carnaby, Seven Dials, Chinatown, Soho and Fitzrovia.
It added that footfall has continued to rise, with weekend levels currently at or above those of 2019. Weekdays are lower, at approximately 80%.
The F&B tenants include purveyors of Japanese robata, Turkish delights and Israeli gelato.
Restaurant director Julia Wilkinson said: “As tough as it has been, the sector has turned a corner, which is wonderful to see”.
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