The retail and leisure destination situated in the north of Coventry, Arena Shopping Park, has announced over 30,000sq ft of new lettings, including a regional debut and openings for four household brand names.
Among these are two newly completed drive-thrus, reflecting the landlord’s commitment to ongoing investment and a proactive approach that drives the park’s continued growth.
• Popeyes has opened its first drive-thru location in the West Midlands, comprising 2,281sq ft. With only four drive-thru sites in the UK, Popeyes is expanding its model across the country, with Arena Shopping Park part of the early stages of growth, a strong vote of confidence in the destination. Serving its full menu of signature Louisiana chicken, tenders, wraps and more, the venue features 66 covers inside and 24 externally. Popeyes is a unique addition to Arena Shopping Park’s F&B offer, complementing leading operators such as Costa, Burger King, Nando’s and M&S Café.
• Simultaneously, Five Guys has also opened a new drive-thru, combining with Popeyes to provide another strong addition to the food offer at Arena Shopping Park. It will cater to the 65 million drivers using the nearby M6 each year, people who live or work in the catchment and those who visit the adjacent Coventry City football stadium and Arena. Five Guys has taken 3,100sq ft, bringing its hand-cut fries and made-to-order burgers to the destination, with up to 65 additional seats inside and 36 outside the unit.
• Arena Shopping Park has also diversified its family-focused offer, with leading UK retailer Smyths Toys opening a 15,104sq ft store within the scheme, adjacent to Next. Best known for its wide range of children’s toys, games and entertainment products, Smyths Toys brings something new to the destination. Alongside this, The Works has also opened a 1,228sq ft location within The Mall, delivering a range of arts, crafts, books, stationery and toys.
• PureGym has opened an 8,730sq ft space, the first gym operator to join Arena Shopping Park. By offering consumers a 24-hour gym service, with top-quality equipment and unlimited classes for a low monthly price, PureGym will benefit from the destination’s close proximity to the thousands of homes and businesses in North Coventry.
These new lettings coincide with Arena Shopping Park’s strong performance throughout 2025, with Savills, managing agents for the scheme, reporting that year-to-date footfall is up 1.7 per cent (3.1 per cent ahead of the National Average) and up 5.9 per cent over the last quarter, highlighting its success as a prime retail asset in Coventry and evolution through considered asset management.
Louisa Butters, Head of Retail Asset Management UK at CBRE Investment Management, which manages Arena Shopping Park on behalf of the JV, commented: “These latest lettings reflect the strong appeal of Arena Shopping Park as a thriving, resilient destination for retailers and consumers alike. Attracting regional debuts such as Popeyes and securing leading UK retailers like Smyths Toys speaks volumes about our collaborative relationship with tenants and our strategic asset management to make Arena Shopping Park a go-to destination for Coventry.”
