Landsec to offer hospitality more flexible leased models: Property landlord Landsec has launched a new product offering for retail and hospitality brands, developed in response to rising demand from digital natives and the rapidly evolving needs of traditional retailers. The new offering is made up of four packages: Platform, Platform +, Home and Spotlight. The suite of products offers more flexible lease options, ranging from one day to three years. Platform and Platform+ in particular have been designed to make physical space more accessible to smaller retailers, independents and digital natives, as well as to provide more established flagship brands with greater flexibility to experiment with new models. The four products mark the next step in Landsec’s journey towards a more customer-centric retail model and are the result of a collaborative consultation process with prospective brand partners. The offer is being launched at Trinity Leeds, where the products have already been trialled for five months with luxury trainer retailer, Kick Game and gift store, Curated Makers. The company will be rolling out the products across the rest of its portfolio at a later date, with plans in place to expand to Bluewater and St David’s later this year. Nik Porter, head of retail brand management at Landsec, said: “It’s no secret that the retail and hospitality industry has witnessed deep-rooted structural shifts in recent years and the requirements around physical space have changed dramatically. A traditional, one-size-fits-all leasing model is no longer fit for purpose. Our new products reflect this new reality. There is something for brands of all shapes and sizes – from digital natives looking to ‘test the waters’, through to large, established names wanting to inject new energy into their brand experience.” Megan Jones, founder at Curated Makers, said: “The Platform package has been a real game-changer for Curated Makers. It’s given us both flexibility and prime space in a busy, central location – a luxury many independents don’t get to enjoy this early on. What we offer is so different to what others bring to Trinity – we’re completely novel and are attracting new visitors, which means everyone is able to benefit.”

Sponsored story – Cat & Wickets Pub Company sees £14,000 boost from Toggle gift cards: The Cat & Wickets Pub Company, founded by England cricketers Stuart Broad and Harry Gurney, made £14,000 through building a single automated email sent with Airship customer relation management. The sportsmen and new-to-the-game pub operators introduced an automated birthday journey following onboarding with Airship, and have seen a single automated email containing a Toggle digital gift card rake in £14,000 worth of revenue. Co-founder of the single site venue, Harry Gurney, said: “Dan Brookman [Airship’s chief executive] promised me during onboarding that the birthday journey alone would pay for the cost of Airship many times over. He couldn’t have been more right! We have generated more than £14,000 of sales from that journey alone. This doesn’t take lifetime value into account either.” If you’re interested in seeing how Airship, the hospitality customer relation management company, can help you see the same results, go here: https://airship.co.uk/signup-prp. If you have a story you’d like to appear in this sponsored slot, email paul.charity@propelinfo.com

 

Barclaycard figures show Easter leisure spending boom: Data from Barclaycard Payments, which processes nearly £1 in every £3 spent on credit and debit cards in the UK, shows that the first Easter Bank Holiday Weekend without covid-19 restrictions since 2019 boosted sales across a number of sectors as consumers enjoyed days out and made the most of the sunny weather. The UK businesses benefitting from an uplift in spending include: Aquariums and zoos: 109.9% up, compared to the Easter Bank Holiday weekend in 2019; camping and caravan sites: 74% up, compared to the Easter Bank Holiday weekend in 2019; fast food: 25% up, compared to the Easter Bank Holiday weekend in 2019 and 35.3% up, compared to the Easter Bank Holiday weekend in 2021; pubs, bars and nightclubs: 74% up, compared to the Easter Bank Holiday weekend in 2019; restaurants: 35.2%, compared to the Easter Bank Holiday weekend in 2019; 116.2% up, compared to the Easter Bank Holiday weekend in 2021. Harshna Cayley, head of online payments, Barclaycard Payments said: “The sunny weather combined with the first restriction free Easter Weekend since 2019 lifted the spirits of Brits as they enjoyed days out and took supported businesses as they return to normal operations across the UK. Our data shows that many experience–led businesses alongside food and drink retailers received a significant boost in trade, which will no doubt be welcome news against the wider backdrop of concerns around the cost of living. As many Brits get back to work, businesses will be hopeful that the recent spell of warmer weather returns in time for the next Bank Holiday in early May.”

Durham Distillery set to launch £800,000 distilling room, bar and visitor centre: Durham Distillery will this summer launch an £800,000 underground distilling room, bar and visitor centre in the town’s Prince Bishops Shopping Centre. The venue will be based in a 5,000 square-foot unit, which was formerly a Royal Bank of Scotland building. Founder John Chadwick said he is aiming for a soft launch in June, before making tours and cocktail-making classes available the following month. He said: “I think it’ll be really good for people to come and see the process from start to finish. They’ll see every ingredient and every bit of kit we use, and they can get a greater appreciation of what craft spirits are all about. We’re bringing something a bit different to the north east and very, very different to Durham. People will be going shopping on the cobbled streets of Durham with our distillery underneath them.” The distillery currently employs three staff, and with the opening of the new site, the team will grow to include shop, bar and distilling staff.

Norwegian fitness brand opens second UK franchise following £300,000 funding: Hitio Gym, which was founded in 1998 and expanded to one of the largest fitness brands in Norway with 32 clubs, has opened its second franchise in the UK following a £300,000 cash injection. Hitio, which has also expanded to Sweden and Portugal, first came to these shores in 2000 when Tim Greenaway opened a gym in Hoxton, London. Husband and wife duo, Raj and Manisha Nagpal, have now launched a site in Orpington, Kent, with the help of funding from alternative finance provider Time Finance. Matt Sturney, senior sales manager at Time Finance, said: “I’m pleased to have helped Raj and Manisha on what is a fantastic business venture for them. Hitio’s unique offering certainly sets them apart from other fitness chains on the market right now, and I have no doubt we’ll see more franchises opening up across the UK in the near future.”

Manchester airport Terminal Three set to reopen along with F&B outlets: Manchester airport’s Terminal Three is set to fully reopen on Friday – along with all its food and drink outlets. The terminal has been partially re-opened since 27 March but will fully re-open due to the increased demand following the easing of covid travel restrictions. The food and beverage offerings at the terminal include Costa Coffee, Kiosko, KFC, Pork & Pickle, The Lion & Antelope pub and The Nook bar.