Welcome to the June/July HighStreetPositives Newsletter! 🌟

If you just read the headlines, you’d think the high street was on its last legs. But we know better. Up and down the country, there’s momentum, creativity and brilliant things happening – and this newsletter is packed with reasons to feel excited about the opportunity.

HighStreetPositives exists to change the narrative. We spotlight what’s working – from brilliant local businesses to creative landlord initiatives, inspiring community action and high street investment. Because when we tell those stories, we help them spread.

Last week we held our first ever HighStreetPositives launch event at Lush’s beautiful Soho space – and the energy in the room was incredible. The event was full of insight, laughter, energy and hope. Huge thanks to our fantastic speakers – Kasey Swithenbank (Lush), Mo Aswat (The Mosaic Partnership), Robin Osterley OBE (Charity Retail Association), Jessica Hill (Savills), Rob Pearson (Nexus Planning), Polly Dhaliwal (Enterprise Nation), Sophie Johnson (The Crown Estate) and Jonathan De Mello (JDM Retail) – all of whom brought sharp, thoughtful and heartfelt perspectives. And to Iain Nicholson(The Vacant Shops Academy) for chairing the evening with warmth, humour and perfect timing – thank you.

We’re so grateful to everyone who helped make the event possible – our generous event sponsors Nexus Planning, who are leading practical, positive town centre strategies across the UK, and Ocasta, whose smart tech removes the guesswork for frontline teams.

Thanks also to We Are Acuity for all their brilliant design work – from the name badges and the beautiful programmes to the presentation visuals – and to the incredible team at the Lush Studio, who couldn’t have been more helpful on the day. And a personal thank you to my wonderful friends and family, who gave their time, energy and love to help everything run smoothly – I couldn’t have done it without you 💛

If you missed it, keep an eye out for our blog and videos on LinkedIn and Instagram, and also information on our next event in Darlington on the 11th September.

We’re also so thrilled to share that Nexus Planning has now come on board as an official supporter of HighStreetPositives, joining the brilliant businesses helping us grow this mission and shine a light on what’s working on the high street. They join Kesslers London, Greenwoods Legal LLP, The Mosaic Partnership and Enterprise Nation – all backing our start-up journey to highlight positive stories and bring together the doers and passionate place-shapers.

If you’re interested in sponsoring or supporting our work, please get in touch – we’re actively looking for funding to help this grow and make it sustainable.

Now, let’s get into the stories – full of energy, creativity and the kind of action that keeps our high streets alive.

‘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. Thank you for all your contributions.

• Bonmarché opened two new stores last week in Skipton and Castlebar, marked by community celebrations, strong local turnout, a mayoral ribbon-cutting, and support from dedicated in-store teams.

• Selfridges on Oxford Street has gained planning permission to add a private members’ club, promising an exclusive new social and shopping experience for VIP customers.

• P&CO has opened its first physical store in Spitalfields, London, after 12 years as an online-only fashion brand—joining a busy retail line-up in the popular east London destination.

• Amorino plans to grow to 100 UK stores by 2030 and has just opened its 35th location at Wimbledon’s Centre Court Shopping Centre in south London.

• Mowgli opens in Norwich on 8th August, bringing its Indian home-style cooking to East Anglia. Bookings open this week.

• The former Debenhams on Market Street in Manchester is set to reopen in 2025, with its first new tenant confirmed – a new food hall from the team behind Market Place.

• Chocolarder, Cornwall’s only bean-to-bar chocolate maker, has officially opened its new Falmouth shop, complete with a build-your-own loose chocolate counter and shelves full of ethically sourced, sustainable treats.

• Pasta Evangelists is opening its first restaurant outside London this July in Guildford, featuring fresh Italian dishes, a pasta academy, and hands-on cookery classes taught by expert pasta chefs.

• Slim Chickens is opening at The Heart in Walton-on-Thames on Thursday 10th July, with giveaways, games and 30 free tenders for the first guest through the door.

• Bangor’s Big Weekend (25–27 July) celebrates the city’s 1500th anniversary with bingo, live Welsh bands, and free family fun including princesses, superheroes, and face painting—offering something for all ages to enjoy.

• Lolo and Co, a mum-and-daughter independent boutique on Aberdeen’s Union Street, has thrived since relocating due to increased footfall, busier days, and a loyal, growing customer base, earning praise for its multi-generational fashion.

• Birmingham Bullring welcomes Hawes & Curtis’ new store yesterday, kicking off their expansion plans with Bluewater next.

• A long-vacant unit in Cork City has been refurbished into a pop-up-ready space- great to see landlords investing in flexible use.

• Newcastle Building Society has opened a new flagship branch in Newcastle city centre – transforming five floors of former retail space into a vibrant hub for financial advice, community use, and a confident vision for our high streets.

• The Works is continuing to back the high street with recent store openings in Loughborough, Sale, Cirencester, Weymouth and a new flagship on Edinburgh’s Princes Street – part of a five-year plan to open 60 stores and grow sales beyond £375m by 2030.

• Work is underway on Wine & Words by Watson – a new bookshop, wine bar and coffee lounge coming soon to Lord Street, Southport

• Belfast City Council celebrates another Vacant to Vibrant success with Beau restaurant opening in Cathedral Quarter’s Warehouse Lane, supported by the scheme. Citywide funding applications remain open despite city centre pot being full. Vacant to Vibrant scheme

• FoodCo opened its 72nd Muffin Break store in Newbury’s Parkway Centre and has two more stores in design. Alongside upcoming Jamaica Blue openings, they aim to exceed 100 stores by the end of 2025.

• WH Smith’s high street stores are still trading after having a quick TGJones rebrand done to meet deadlines this week. There’s a huge opportunity ahead to enhance the community and customer experience.

• Thistle Tavern in Aberdeen is a thriving high street gaming hub with nearly £1m in annual sales. Following amazing growth, it’s planning 2–3 new stores in Scotland, blending retail with vibrant community tournaments and events.

How to Successfully Open on the High Street: A Practical Guide


By Alex Hutchings, Greenwoods Legal LLP

Let’s face it, people are getting tired of their online orders being dumped behind the bins or delivered to a neighbour who definitely isn’t in; more and more, the simple pleasure of popping down to the high street is making a comeback. With talk of pedestrianising The Nation's High Street gathering pace, there's real momentum behind bricks-and-mortar business. If you're thinking of opening a shop, cafe, restaurant, or co-working space on the high street, here are five tips to make sure your next launch is a hit.

1.Location, Location, Location

Pick a high traffic-area where your customers already shop. Use data and expert help.

2.Budget for Everything

Include legal fees, rent, deposits, insurance, business rates, marketing, fit-out, stock,
staffing, and tech systems.

3.Plan Your Timing

Expect 6-8 weeks for legal lease work, plus 4-6 weeks for fit-out and hiring staff as a minimum.

4.Maximise Your First 3 Months

Capitalise on your “new kid
on the block” status. Plan a memorable launch event with giveaways or community activities.

5.Build Flexibility into Your Lease

Check for break clauses and flexible terms to protect your business and allow you to relocate, adapt and expand.

Time to make it happen:


Opening a physical store or expanding is an exciting step for any retailer but if you focus on the points above it should set you up for success.  


The Real Estate team at Greenwoods Legal LLP specialise in helping retailers and restaurateurs with all their property needs. 


If you are looking at opening your next store and want to see how we could assist then feel free to get in touch and let’s grab a coffee.

Alex Hutchings, Partner and Head of Real Estate, Greenwoods Legal LLP

[email protected]

Read full article: How to Successfully Open on the High Street: A Practical Guide
 – HighStreetPositives

5 Things that should be on the radar of every high street developer

By Rich Ford - Sherlock Studio

When we talk about developing thriving high streets, what if we started from a different place entirely: by mapping British society’s greatest challenges and needs and asking how high street development can address and answer them? By doing so, we could potentially deliver something far more meaningful and with greater longevity for shoppers and local communities. Here are five ideas...

1. Loneliness

Loneliness in society and its impact on mental and physical health is a mounting issue. And yet, opportunities for social interaction on the high street are being eroded due to the increasing automation of the customer journey. It’s therefore imperative we design social spaces back in. This is just what Grimsby is doing.

2. Nature

Research shows that nature can have a hugely positive effect on our mental wellness. So, how can we bring more nature into the heart of our towns and cities (where nature is typically lacking)? Whilst urban spaces might not feel like an easy space to bring nature into, there are multiple ways of doing so as Westfield has shown.

3. Circularity

Many of us now don’t have the skills or time to repair items ourselves or know where to go to do so, leading to unnecessary waste. But what if it were easier to make repairs, learn how to repair or have repairs done whilst we shop? Could so called ‘repair cafes’ be scaled across the country alongside more tailors offering garment repair services?

4. Reading

Half of all adults in the UK don’t read regularly. Meanwhile, just one third of children and young people aged 8-18 enjoy reading. Reading is connected to so many things, from academic attainment to honing empathy skills and yet public libraries continue to close. From creating reading rooms to this example of Five Valleys Shopping Centre housing Stroud Library, there are so many ways retail spaces can encourage reading.

5. Healthy eating

Globally, obesity is on the rise, with 1 in 8 people in the world living in obesity. Access to affordable, healthy food and food education is key to prevention. So how can retail spaces encourage healthier cooking and eating habits? Perhaps by hosting a cookery school like Brighton & Hove Food Partnership’s community kitchen or by establishing a weekly farmers’ market in a shopping centre forecourt.

Make Merchandising Work for You

By Sarah Johnson, Founder, Flourish Retail
www.flourishretail.com

Merchandising might sound like something only big retailers do, but it’s one of the most useful tools independent businesses can tap into - especially when it comes to freeing up cash, shifting stock, and making the most of what’s already working.

You don’t need complex systems or huge spreadsheets. Start by reviewing your bestsellers - the products driving your profit. Prioritise them when reordering, give them prime space (online or in-store), and make sure they don’t run out.

Then look at your slower lines. They’re often tying up cash that could be used elsewhere. Could you bundle them? Discount them? Or avoid repeating them next season?

One simple trick is to check your cover: divide how many units of a product you’ve got by how many you sell a week. That shows how long your stock will last - and whether you need to reorder or hold off.

Buying less, more often, gives you flexibility and protects cashflow. Even if you pay a little more per unit, if it means you don’t end up discounting later, your exit margin - the profit you actually make - will be stronger.

Merchandising puts you back in control of your stock, your cash, and your growth - so your business works for you, not the other way round.

Join the NEW HighStreetPositives Membership Community

High streets are so much more than shops - they’re vital community hubs that help combat loneliness, isolation, antisocial behaviour, and boost social wellbeing. That’s why we’re so passionate about changing the narrative around high streets and bringing together people who truly care.

For just £10/month (£100/year), you can join a vibrant, well-connected community of champions and doers dedicated to supporting and shaping the future of high streets. As a member, you’ll get:

• The chance to network, learn, and collaborate with fellow doers and changemakers

• Early invites to events and virtual sessions where ideas flow and opportunities grow

• A shiny new HighStreetPositives badge, designed by We Are Acuity, to show your support

• Access to exclusive forums, case studies, and shared insights

• Support the cause and help make this community viable so we can grow our focus on improving high streets

If cost is a barrier, just get in touch — this is a community for everyone who believes in positive change.

Join Us – and help shift the high street story from decline to opportunity.

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:

• Loungers continue to seek good quality suburban High Street locations and market towns. They typically target locations with an immediate catchment of 15,000 people view more info here

• Jones Bootmakers are looking for new opportunities in outlets and High Streets locations. Size requirements range from 1,600 sq ft to 2,200 sq ft. View more info

• The menswear retailer, Luke 1977 are looking for 800-1,800 sq ft units in prime locations. Target towns include Blackburn, Chelmsford, Edinburgh + more

• Allpress Coffee seek 750 sq ft+ units in high footfall London locations. Targeting areas such as Clerkenwel, Fitzrovia, Marylebone. You can view their target town list here

• Poundstretcher are back looking to open new locations. They require between 6,000 - 12,000 sq.ft and are looking across the UK. View their regional property acquisition contacts 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 so much for reading this edition of the HighStreetPositives Monthly newsletter!

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• Check out our webpage - highstreetpositives.com

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• And finally, if you have any news, suggestions, or collaboration opportunities, I’d love to hear from you. Feel free to contact me at laura@highstreetpositives.com