Welcome to the February HighStreetPositives Newsletter!

This newsletter is all about highlighting the positive stories that showcase the strength, creativity, and resilience of our high streets. A huge thank you to everyone who has shared their stories, engaged with us, and helped shift the narrative—your contributions are making a real impact!

Our exciting collaborations this month:
🌸 A brand-new partnership with the British Independent Retailers Association (Bira) to encourage and highlight independent retailers amazing high street stories.
🌸 It was lovely to chat to Dan Astorita (The MD of Kesslers London) on his new Podcast- coming soon!
🌸 And thank you to Ria Ghei for featuring HSP in an article on why changing the high street narrative is so important in The Derby World, Nottingham World, and Birmingham World.

And there’s even more to come very soon! We’ll soon be announcing our absolutely amazing founding supporters, and other new partnerships that will help take this initiative even further. This means more time to grow collaborations, improve the communications, and bring even more good news stories to light.

We really believe if we all keep highlighting the good things that are happening on our high street and helping make the narrative more positive, we could encourage more investment, more footfall, more creativity, and more optimism. What do you think? Please keep sharing your stories, spreading the word, and reaching out with collaboration ideas.

Quick update: HighStreetPositives is now an incorporated company, so our privacy policy has been updated (read it here). You’ll find more details in the email footer, and you can unsubscribe anytime.

‘The High Street is Dying’ They said…However…

There are loads of positive news stories from high streets across the UK. Here's a selection of highlights, celebrating new store openings, regeneration projects, and other positive developments

• Mango is opening 20 new UK stores in 2025, including a flagship on Oxford Street, plus locations in Birmingham, Bracknell, Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Cardiff, after exceeding 70 UK stores in 2024.

• MiMi, an independent award winning Ladieswear and gift boutique in Hartley Wintney and Wokingham, faced devastating flooding of their HW store when nearly two months' worth of rain fell in just one hour. Being displaced for seven months (MiMi traded in a secret shed & then relocated 50 metres up the road) MiMi is finally back in their original building and back open to their customers. 

  A large welcome party is scheduled when the weather is warmer to thank customers, suppliers and staff for their support during this stressful experience. Their perseverance highlights the strength of local independents who thrive through adversity, embodying the resilience that fuels high streets.

• Whole Foods Market is expanding in the UK with a new store opening on King’s Road, Chelsea, on March 25 - its first UK launch in a decade. The 21,800 sq. ft. store will feature locally sourced products, exclusive items, and Whole Foods’ signature fresh and organic food offering.

• A new community-led wayfinding strategy has been introduced in Bognor Regis, featuring bold, colourful signposting that reflects the town’s seaside heritage and cultural vibrancy.

• Superdrug has appointed Clare Jennings as property director, succeeding Nigel Duxbury, and have ambitious plans to open 30 new stores and refit 65 locations in 2025.

• Community businesses are breathing new life into high streets by repurposing empty spaces - 46% are based on or near a high street, and 39% are believed to drive regeneration. However, 60% face challenges in taking on vacant properties. Jessica Craig from Power to Change explores this in her blog, drawing on insights from their Community Business Market Report.

• The Massage Company is contributing to the revitalisation of high streets by creating 20-30 jobs per new location. Each centre serves thousands of customers monthly, providing accessible massage therapy for physical and mental health. The company plans to open 100 centres across the UK by 2030, with a new centre set to open in the Atria, Watford on the 15th May. Link to their VIP opening on the 14th May is here.

• Carl's Jr., famous for its charbroiled burgers, is opening its first UK restaurant in Cardiff this April, with a second location in southern England planned before summer. The chain, known for its burgers, fries, and milkshakes, aims to open 100 UK sites over the next four years.

• Nobody’s Child has opened its first store outside London in St Albans on 19th February, marking a significant expansion for the brand.

• Sosandar has recently opened new stores in Harrogate (Feb 21), Bath (Feb 28), and a concession in Dublin’s Arnotts last year, expanding its retail presence. This follows openings in Cardiff, Metrocentre, Marlow, and Chelmsford in 2024.

• Loungers has opened a new restaurant Saludo Lounge in Workington’s Washington Square, marking the 247th Lounge and the 6th opening of 2025.

• KIKO Milano UK & Ireland is set to open new stores on London Oxford St, Kensington High St, and Dublin Grafton St in Q2 2025, marking an exciting expansion.

• Freight Island, an innovative 60,000 sq ft entertainment and dining venue, will open in Newcastle’s Eldon Square in autumn 2025, taking over the top floor of the former Debenhams department store. Inspired by global spaces like Coney Island, it will feature street food, live music, sustainability initiatives, and immersive events, creating a vibrant cultural hub in the heart of the city.

• The outdoor retailer GO opened its new flagship store in Basingstoke last week, offering a wide range of outdoor gear and equipment.

• Work has officially begun on the £70 million Freshney Place leisure development in Grimsby, one of the town’s largest investments. The project will introduce a new cinema, food hall, and market, creating 1,700 jobs, revitalising the town centre, and offering a vibrant space for shopping, dining, and entertainment.

The Art of Collaboration: Strengthening Communities on the High Street

Simple, community-driven collaborations are proving to be a powerful force in revitalising high streets. In Bournemouth, art curator Millie Lake has brought together over 30 artists for the "At Home" exhibition at Patch Bournemouth. By partnering with local businesses, engaging Arts University Bournemouth students, and offering free entry, she has created an accessible cultural event that has drawn significant interest. With over 90 submissions and 150 tickets selling out, it’s clear there is a strong demand for inclusive events that make the high street a vibrant, welcoming space. Millie has led this project voluntarily alongside her role as Assistant Curator & Operations Officer at TheGallery, demonstrating her commitment to making art more accessible.

Meanwhile, in Brighton, author Rich Ford (also the creative director at the retail design agency Sherlock Studios) has taken a creative approach to high street engagement with his Pancake Day storytelling event, inspired by his children's book, Unken Dunken Makes Pancakes. The book, which celebrates cooking and family traditions, has been featured on Channel 5’s Milkshake! Story Den and is stocked by Waterstones and Foyles. To bring the story to life, Rich partnered with LUSH, Bird & Blend Tea, and Sostrene Grene, creating a unique, multi-sensory experience that blends books, storytelling, and retail. The sold-out event invited families to enjoy a live reading alongside sensory activities, reinforcing the power of collaboration in drawing people to the high street.

These initiatives highlight the impact of fresh ideas and partnerships in transforming local spaces. By bringing together artists, businesses, and communities, Millie and Rich show that small, passionate projects can inspire new activity on the high street. Their work proves that with creativity and cooperation, high streets can be thriving, dynamic spaces for culture and connection.

High Street Site Opportunities: Criteria and Locations

The Requirement List is a database of active retail & leisure property requirements, used by the majority of the retail property market.

Below are a handful of recent requirements added to the site:

• OneBeyond is looking to open 30 new stores in 2025. They are seeking 5,000 - 15,000 sq.ft opportunities on busy High Streets, Neighbourhood & Shopping Centres. View their requirement flyer here

• iCrack are looking to open a number of new stores in 2025. They require between 250 - 1,100 sq ft in prime locations. View their target towns here

• QD Stores are seeking new stores in good market towns between 3,500 - 9,000 sq.ft. View further information here

• Coffee#1 is searching for market town or suburb High Street locations for new coffee shops. Intro fees are paid for off market opportunities. View more info here

• Peacocks are looking for new opportunities on the High street, focusing on coastal / market towns. View their size requirements here 

• Cards Direct are targeting over 20 new stores in 2025. Their focus is on Shopping Centres or High Streets properties. You can view their target town list here

Does your business need to know who's active in the market? You can view more active retail & leisure property requirements here.

Use the High Street Positives promo code 'HSP' at the checkout for 10% off your subscription. 

Thank you for reading HighStreetPositives - please share, collaborate and connect