Jo Malone opening in Leamington after Wareing & Company agrees deal

Luxury perfume brand Jo Malone London is set to open in the centre of Leamington in time for Christmas after Wareing & Company secured the move.

The new store will be opening at 67 Parade on Friday December 13th.

The company, which has more than 50 stores in the UK, is in the process of moving into the 1,523 sq ft unit which sits between Santander and Specsavers.

Rachel Baker, UK General Manager of Jo Malone London, said: “We are delighted to announce the news of our new Jo Malone London store opening in Leamington Spa.

“This elegant Regency town located in the heart of Warwickshire offers a sophisticated setting for Jo Malone London with its regal architecture and renowned spas.

“We believe that Leamington Spa’s charm and rich heritage perfectly complement our brand’s dedication to timeless elegance.”

Jonathan Blood, Director at Wareing & Company, added: “Jo Malone London is a highly-recognised brand that will be an excellent addition to the many great stores on Parade.

“This deal once again shows that the retail market in Leamington is more resilient than many other towns, and that big names are prepared to move in once the right unit is found.”

Multinational medical firm opens first UK warehouse after Wareing deal

A multinational medical firm making products for diagnostic imaging has opened its first UK warehouse for repairing and testing after moving the service in-house.

Bracco UK has signed a lease on a 5,685 sq ft warehouse and 1,549 sq ft of office space at 8 Titan Business Centre in Warwick after Jonathan Blood, Director at Wareing & Company, secured a deal.

Bracco, headquartered in Italy, creates and distributes products used in contrast imaging – such as chemicals that can be detected in X-rays, MRI scans, and more, along with devices that can administer them.

While the UK arm of the company had a strong sales presence in the country from its Oxford offices, and saw its products used in both NHS and private hospitals, it used to rely on third parties to repair defective equipment and to test new products.

Bracco UK decided to bring this part of the business in-house so its customers would not have to deal with anyone new when it came to servicing and repairing.

As a result of this decision, Bracco UK needed suitable premises to base the service from.

Mark Pittaway, Service Manager for Bracco UK, said: “We knew we wanted somewhere fairly central to base the service in as our products are in hospitals all over the country. The warehouse also needed to be a blank canvas with associated office space, but that we could move into right away without any remedial work.

“We looked in Birmingham, Coventry, and similar areas, but when we came across the unit at Titan Business Centre, we thought it could be a good option.”

Mark was shown the warehouse by Jonathan, who understood Bracco’s requirements around having a turnkey premises and was able to demonstrate that the unit at Titan Business Centre was an ideal choice.

The team of six has now moved into the warehouse and is hitting the ground running.

Mark added: “It was clear that Jon understood what we were after as a business – which is something we couldn’t say for other agents we worked with in trying to find a suitable warehouse.

“Many other properties we were recommended by others were either too run-down or not quite right for our needs.

“We haven’t long moved in but we’ve already settled in nicely. The warehouse is exactly what we wanted and will enable us to kick-start our in-house repair and testing service in the UK, which will significantly improve our customers’ experience.”

Jonathan Blood, Director at Wareing & Company, said: “8 Titan Business Centre’s open space, high specification and excellent links to the motorway network via the M40 made it an attractive proposition for Bracco UK.

“We’re really pleased that Bracco UK has made itself at home so quickly, and we hope it will be an excellent base for its repair and testing operations for years to come.”

Wareing helps games company move into 20,000 sq ft offices in Leamington Spa

A growing games company has shown its faith in the Leamington office market after moving into 20,000 sq ft of office space in the heart of the town as it looks to expand its team.

Lighthouse Games has moved into Imperial Court in Leamington Spa after Jonathan Blood, director at Wareing & Company, agreed a deal on the building.

The company, which recently received major investment from industry giants Tencent, is transitioning its staff from its old base in Marlborough House in Leamington to Imperial Court as the space across four floors is fitted out over the next few months.

It is now planning to grow its employee count significantly as it works on an as-yet unrevealed new project.

Nick Craig, Operations Director at Lighthouse Games, said: “We’d been looking for new offices for a while, as our old space at Marlborough House couldn’t accommodate our rapid expansion.

“The property ticked a lot of boxes for us – parking so any staff driving in can relax on their commute knowing they can easily park, close to the great local restaurants and bars Leamington has to offer so they can socialise together after work, and lots of space for us to expand.

Jonathan Blood, Director at Wareing & Company, said: “This deal shows Leamington’s office market is proving more resilient than other towns of its size, and also shows the faith the video games industry has in the town.

“Imperial Court is one of the most prominent office buildings in the town, and its versatility and ease of access were very attractive to Lighthouse Games.

“Leamington earned the nickname ‘Silicon Spa’ thanks to the high density of games companies in and around the town, and this deal only solidifies Leamington’s reputation as the place to be for the video games industry in the Midlands.”

New Nisa coming to Leamington after Wareing & Company strikes deal

A new Nisa convenience store will soon be coming to a prime location in Leamington and will create 15 jobs in the town after Wareing & Company agreed a deal for a growing retail property business to buy the site.

The former Paperchase on 36 Parade in Leamington town centre will be replaced by a new Nisa store following the 5,709 sq ft building’s purchase by Dougall Group, a family-owned property company which owns a variety of convenience stores in the West Midlands and London.

The shop, which sits between McDonald’s and Flying Tiger Copenhagen and comes with a Pret A Manger-branded coffee machine, will open in September.

Ricky Dougall, director of Dougall Group, was informed of the opportunity by Jonathan Blood, director at Wareing & Company.

“We had been looking at opening a store in Leamington for a while, but we’d never been able to find a property that met all of our needs,” Ricky said.

“I’d been in contact with Jon on a previous deal that we didn’t pursue in the end, but we kept in touch because of our desire to find a Leamington site.

“When he told us about this opportunity – especially to buy rather than rent – we knew this was the site we were looking for.

“36 Parade is in an excellent location being right next to the main bus stops and attracting a high level of footfall.

“And the flexibility of Nisa being an independent retailer means we can adjust our stock depending on what our customers really need, and the Pret coffee machine will be a fantastic addition for those wanting a quick, quality coffee fix.

“We’re looking forward to opening in September and we’re confident Leamington will embrace the new store warmly. If all goes well, we’d be looking at potentially finding more sites in south Warwickshire to expand our portfolio further.”

Jonathan Blood, director at Wareing & Company, added: “It is rare for a property to be up for sale on Leamington’s Parade as opposed to a rental opportunity, and we’re delighted that Dougall Group has purchased the building.

“We had strong hopes for the site due to its enviable location on one of the busiest streets in the town in terms of footfall.

“It’s great news that 15 jobs will be created as a result of the store opening, and once again shows the strength of Leamington’s retail market compared to towns of similar sizes.”

Handelsbanken moves to 3,000 sq ft Leamington office after Wareing & Co secure deal

A major bank is set to open a premier office location in Leamington Spa as part of its plans for growth in the area after Wareing & Company secured a deal.

Local relationship bank Handelsbanken will move to a new 3,000 sq ft office on the second floor of Olympus House from its current premises in the town after agreeing a 10-year sub-lease with leading law firm Wright Hassall.

Jonathan Blood, director at Wareing & Company, acted on the deal on behalf of Handelsbanken.

He said: “We have worked with Wright Hassall for a number of years now to help complete our own transactions, so it’s fitting that we secured the deal for Handelsbanken to move into Olympus House.

“The space and amenities fitted Handelsbanken requirement’s perfectly, and we hope the team enjoy settling into their new office.”

Handelsbanken is a relationship bank which offers banking and financial support for customers ranging from individuals to large corporate and financial institutions.

Its Leamington Spa branch, which serves its south Warwickshire customer base, was previously based at Myton House in the town centre for a decade, with all 13 staff due to relocate to Olympus House.

Dani Coe, Branch Manager for Handelsbanken Leamington Spa, said: “Moving to Olympus House is a natural step to accommodate our expanding team of relationship bankers in order to support even more customers in the local community.

“It not only provides a fantastic location for us with excellent parking for our customers, but almost double the office space as our previous site, alongside a welcoming open-plan office space which allows our team to be all on one floor.

“We are very thankful to Wright Hassall and Wareing & Co for helping with our move.”

Phil Wilding, Managing Partner at Wright Hassall, said: “I’m really pleased to welcome Handelsbanken to Olympus House, which has been our proud home since 2007.

“Modern offices look very different from when we first moved in, and in recent years we have seen companies across the world – including Wright Hassall – embrace hybrid working, with most of our 240 staff able to work in a hybrid manner.

“This working style has enabled us to consolidate the office space that we need as a business, and use our premises differently. It has meant we have been able to release some of our surplus space to other local businesses, which ties in with our aspirations to support local businesses and enable their growth and success.

“We still have plenty of office capacity for all of our staff, including space for growth, which is very much on our agenda.

“Handelsbanken is a well-respected name within the banking sector and we are delighted to welcome another local business into our office space.”

 

 

 

Leamington architects opening art gallery alongside studio after Wareing deal

A chartered architects practice based in Leamington Spa is set to shake-up the high street with its latest move – by hosting a fine art gallery alongside the architects studio.

Rickett Architects is set to move into Regent Court, 2 Livery Street – the former home of fashion store Jaeger – from its current offices at 168 Parade in the town centre after Wareing & Company secured a deal.

Rickett Architects, which designs high density and affordable housing schemes, residential and care home buildings for clients all over the country, wanted to increase its presence in Leamington by moving into a ground-floor high street location.

But the move into the 1,944 sq ft unit on Regent Court is not just a simple office move. The bulk of the space will be dedicated to displaying and selling contemporary art from a range of regional and international artists in a concept Rickett Architects calls ‘Pavilion’.

Dan Rickett, Managing Director of Rickett Architects, said: “Through Pavilion, we wanted to bring the architects studio to ground level to improve our visibility, in addition to sharing the cost of space with complimentary uses to support our hybrid working policies.

“We are working with Gallery Director Kelly Childs who brings industry knowledge and unbridled enthusiasm for the project and knows a lot of up-and-coming artists through her work. It was through speaking to her that the idea for a combined space took hold.”

Dan saw that Wareing & Company were marketing the old Jaeger unit at Regent Court and thought the space could be perfect for the new venture.

“We want to use around three-quarters of it for the art gallery, and the rest for our architect’s studio,” he added.

“The idea is that the customer sees the fine art gallery first and this brings them in – and it’s also something that our clients can enjoy when they come to visit us in the studio.

“We’re also keen to make sure the art is at a good range of prices and supports local artists rather than focusing on exclusivity and prestige.

“Ultimately, we wanted to try a new model of getting an architectural business to viably have a presence on a high street. If successful, we will look to try and roll it out to other locations, with Pavilion being the anchor concept.

“We must thank Wareing & Company for their support too. They were very professional to deal with and made the process of securing the lease as smooth as it could have been. We can’t wait to move in.”

Bill Wareing, owner of Wareing & Company, said: “It’s great to see Rickett Architects trying something bold on the high street and combining office space with a different venture.

“Regent Court, 2 Livery Street is in a fantastic location in Leamington with plenty of footfall, so they won’t be short of people admiring the art on display.

“We wish Dan and the team all the best with the move and look forward to viewing the artwork ourselves.”

Julie’s efforts recognised with promotion

Wareing & Co has announced the promotion of a valued long-standing member of staff.

Julie Bevan, who has been with the firm for almost 20 years, has been promoted to office manager.

Julie joined the firm in 2004 and plays an integral part in the business, managing the accounts, overseeing the Wareing & Co website and supporting with enquiries.

She has recently increased her hours and now works full time for the firm.

Julie, who lives in Leamington and has three children, said she is thrilled with the promotion.

She said: “I really enjoy my role at Wareing & Co and I am very pleased to be recognised with this promotion.

“No two days are the same in my job and I love that there is always something different to do.

“I have three children, but as my youngest is now 15 it has given me the opportunity to increase my hours and take on more responsibilities.

“I look forward to continuing to support the growth of the business in my new role.”

Jonathan Blood, director at Wareing & Co, said: “Julie is an extremely valuable member of the team at Wareing & Co.

“She has been with the business for almost 20 years – a fantastic achievement – and this promotion is very well-deserved.”

Law firm moving to vibrant offices in Leamington Spa

An expanding law firm is set to relocate to new offices in Leamington Spa as part of its ambitious plans for growth.

Thomas Flavell & Sons Solicitors, a thriving law firm, are thrilled to announce their upcoming move to a dynamic and modern workspace at 19 Waterloo Place.

Currently operating from separate offices on Regent Grove and Smith Street in Leamington and Warwick respectively, Thomas Flavell & Sons Solicitors aims to centralise their operations by bringing their dedicated team under one roof.

The new premises will accommodate all existing staff and provide ample room for an additional 15 employees, further bolstering the firm’s ability to serve their growing client base.

The firm, whose services encompass residential and commercial property matters, family law, probate, and litigation, has enjoyed remarkable success in recent years. With the vision of expanding operations and attracting top talent, the firm sought an inviting and contemporary office space.

The upcoming move not only showcases the firm’s ambition and commitment to clients but also highlights their dedication to fostering a collaborative and forward-thinking work environment. The modern amenities and strategic location of the Waterloo Place premises will undoubtedly enhance the firm’s ability to provide exceptional legal services while attracting talented professionals who share their values and vision.

Jamie Connolly, Director and Head of Corporate at Thomas Flavell & Sons, is looking to introduce a fresh and vibrant work environment by embracing open office space, hot-desking, and collaborative breakout areas. This approach aims to foster a relaxed atmosphere, departing from the conventional setting typically associated with traditional offices.

He said: “We wanted our new office to be a real draw for both our staff and our clients instead of being a staid environment where our employees didn’t really want to be.

“It was important that we were in a thriving town centre like Leamington too – there are so many great businesses, cafes and bars that staff can enjoy while working here.

“We were also inspired by places like 1 Mill Street in Leamington which is showing what the future of office working can be like with its flexible approach to working. We want to try and emulate that to a certain extent at Waterloo Place.

“Wareing & Company showed us a few places during our search, and the property on Waterloo Place really stood out for us thanks to its great interior space and central location.

“We’re really looking forward to the move and we’re confident our current staff, as well as future employees, will enjoy being based there.”

The office is expected to open in early September after the fit-out of the interior is finished and will add to the firm’s three offices in Leicestershire.

Jonathan Blood, Director at Wareing & Company, added: “Leamington Spa continues to be a desirable town for businesses to relocate providing the office space is of the right quality – and this deal is a clear example of that.

“19 Waterloo Place provides Thomas Flavell Solicitors with office space that is not only in a great location in the town, but has enough flexibility and size that they can fulfil their vision of open office working and expanding the business too.

“We’re delighted the move has completed and we look forward to seeing the business grow even more from its new home when it opens in September.”

New Greek restaurant opens in Leamington after deal agreed

The owners of a successful Warwickshire pub chain have opened a new Greek restaurant in Leamington town centre after a delivery version of the business proved popular during lockdown.

Taverna Meraki is the latest venture of Matt & Alex Crowther, owners of Pug Pubs Limited which operates The Royal Pug, The Fat Pug, and coffee shop Procaffeinate in Leamington, The Black Pug in Warwick, and The Lazy Pug in Shipston.

The new restaurant started life as a takeaway business during lockdown, which saw many customers order its food again and again.

It found its permanent home on Regent Street at the 1,553 sq ft site of the former Café Rouge after Wareing & Company secured a deal.

Matt said: “I’d always had ambitions of opening some sort of Greek restaurant as I’d worked there for four years and loved the food.

“When we founded our first pub, The Fat Pug in 2012, we asked our friend from Greece, Yannis, to come over and work with us at the business, with the possible idea of starting a Greek restaurant at some point.

“Pug Pubs did very well, but when lockdown hit, we realised our pub offering did not translate well to delivery and we needed to come up with something new.

“This was the right time for us to finally start our Greek food idea, firstly as a delivery business. Customers loved the gyros, souvlaki and other authentic Greek dishes we served up. When lockdown was lifted, we toured the business around various food shows, with a similar response from customers.

“It was amazing to see how well it did, and many people asked us where they could go for a sit-down meal. That was when we realised we needed a permanent restaurant.”

Matt approached Bill Wareing, owner of Wareing & Company, who took them through various options in the area before narrowing it down to a few locations.

And when Matt visited the former Café Rouge on Regent Street – which has stood empty for around 18 months – the decision was simple for him.

“I just knew it was the one,” he added. “We wanted a building in the centre of Leamington, preferably with existing amenities and that didn’t require too much work. And Café Rouge ticked all the boxes.

“Bill’s knowledge of exactly which units offered what was incredibly useful, and meant the process of finding a suitable base was far easier than it might have been.”

Bill added: “This building is in a great central location in Leamington, being right next to the Royal Priors Shopping Centre and many other restaurants.

“This deal is yet another sign that Leamington’s food scene is continuing to grow despite the external pressures on the economy.

“Taverna Meraki is a fantastic new addition to the town centre and to the Pug Pubs brand.”

Leamington jewellers set to triple in size after Wareing & Company seals move

A Leamington jewellers which dates back to the 19th century is set to triple in size by moving to a bigger premises in the town centre after a Wareing & Company completed a deal.

Tustains Jewellers, founded in 1895, is set to move into a 3,260 sq ft unit at Satchwell Court – three times larger than its current shop on Regent Street – just outside the entrance to the Royal Priors Shopping Centre.

The company, which sells a variety of luxury watches and fine jewellery including bespoke items, is confident the move will boost its turnover and is aiming to hire new staff for the new store.

The move was sealed after Wareing & Company agreed the deal with Tustains on behalf of the freehold owners of Royal Priors Shopping Centre.

Tom Milner, Director of Tustains, said: “Luxury retail requires space, particularly for multi-brand showrooms such as ours. Hospitality at the new store will be essential and we will be able to show a much more comprehensive collection from each watchmaker.

“We had wanted to move stores for a while, but part of the problem in finding a new home has always been that our location was already right.

“So when Wareing & Company showed us the unit on Satchwell Court, we knew it would be an excellent new home for us.

“It offers the same location on the right part of Regent Street, but also catches the footfall through the Royal Priors. We also like the presence of the wide frontage and the courtyard.

“This is a big step up for Tustains, and we are looking forward to opening the new store in the near future.”

Bill Wareing, owner of Wareing & Company, added: “Tustains has been a well-respected name in Leamington for more than 120 years, so to agree a deal to not only keep the business in the town but allow the team to fulfil their ambitions and bring jobs to the area is fantastic news.

“It is a great vote of confidence in town-centre retail, with the unit at Satchwell Court being among the most prominent in Leamington town centre.

“We hope the move allows Tustains to continue to flourish in Leamington and enable more people to earn a living within the town.”