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NEWS - UK
World's first ever pop-up shopping mall opens in Shoreditch, London
The world’s first pop-up shopping mall opened in Shoreditch, London on Saturday 3 December 2011.
Boxpark is a fresh retail revolution from Roger Wade, creator of Boxfresh and fashion brand consultancy Brands Incorporated, in partnership with real estate developers Hammerson and Ballymore.
Boxpark see itself as the answer to Mary Portas’ report into high street shopping. Portas, who was commissioned by David Cameron and Nick Clegg, said the model of the High Street “is working in the same way that it did in the 1960s, but the 1960s are no
longer here.”
Boxpark strips and refits shipping containers to create unique, low-cost, low-risk, ‘box shops’. Put them together with a unique mix of international fashion, arts and lifestyle brands, galleries and cafés and you’ve got the world’s first ‘pop-up’ mall – so named because its basic building blocks are inherently movable: they can, and will, literally pop up anywhere in the world!.
200 drive-thru Starbucks' to open
Starbucks will open 200 drive-thru outlets in the UK over the next five years as it seeks to position itself as the best place to get coffee on-the-go. The move will challenge the dominance of McDonald’s, which currently sells the most coffees in the UK.
Starbucks claimed its new drive-thru stores ‘will bring new levels of comfort and environmental performance to the roadside.’ Kris Engskov, Managing Director of Starbucks UK and Ireland, said: “Customers told us that they now expect the best possible coffee wherever they are, and the success of our first drive-thru stores shows that this is a huge opportunity.”
Starbucks is looking to expand the reach of its coffee by agreeing licences to sell it on trains, planes and in supermarkets and workplaces.
Boutique Hotel to launch in 2012
Built in 1888, The Ampersand Hotel is one of London’s original Victorian boutique hotels and due to open its doors in time for the London 2012 Olympics. Located on Harrington Road, this new 110 bedroom destination is just seconds away from South Kensington tube station.
Inspired by the capital’s iconic cultural district, the hotel’s design aesthetic is inspired by the surrounding world-famous museums devoted to botany, music, geometry, ornithology and astronomy.
The Ampersand Hotel is a new London experience with individually styled bedrooms and balconied suites, splashes of contemporary art, a ground floor patisserie serving artisanal coffee and a stunning Bellini bar. An atmospheric vaulted destination cocktail and dining experience on the lower ground floor is expected to become one of The Ampersand Hotel’s focal attractions.
Olympic Park Legacy Company unveil park design winners
The Olympic Park Legacy Company (OPLC) has unveiled the winners of its North Park and South Park Design Competition.
The designs were on display at the OPLC’s offices until 9 December and at New London Architecture in early January.
It is hoped that both park spaces will create an urban landscape similar to the South Bank, it will incorporate a visitor centre, water features and play facilities.
OPLC Chief Executive Andrew Altman said: “Plans are more advanced than any previous host Olympic City to deliver an exciting mix of new homes, jobs, and leisure and business opportunities.”
The winner of the South Park project was lead by James Corner Field Operations, whereas the North Park project was lead by erect architecture.
Station sales continue to outperform high street
Network Rail has released station retail sales results for July to September 2011 showing a 3.85 per cent growth in like for like sales, compared to the same time the previous year. For the same period high street sales, as reported by the British Retail Consortium, grew by just 0.10 per cent, showing that retail sales in stations continue to outperform the high street.
Results were slightly up on the previous quarter (April to June 2011), which recorded a 3.7 per cent growth in like-for-like sales, compared to the same time the previous year.
Network Rail has seen a host of new signings recently and December will see the opening of a new larger Boots at Waterloo Station spread over two floors. At Liverpool St, the old Food Court will be closing to introduce a new 4,500sq ft ‘gastropub’ called ‘The Merchant of Bishopsgate’.
Network Rail’s Head of Retail Gavin McKechnie said: “Our figures continue to outperform the high street in this challenging economic climate thanks to investment in rail and growth in passenger numbers, providing retailers with a competitive trading environment in stations. During the current economic downturn our retailers, and food and beverage operators, are working especially hard to provide the right level of service and convenience to make our customers still want to use us as a first choice.”
Network Rail will soon be launching nearly 50,000sq ft of new retail space at King’s Cross and Waterloo stations.
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