The Royal Exchange Manchester gears up for the festive season with new store openings

(LONDON) — Hines, the international real estate firm, has announced new store openings at the Royal Exchange Manchester in the build up to the busy Christmas period.

Premium menswear fashion retailer Yards Store will be moving into a new unit on Old Bank Street, stocking a wide range of brands tailored for urban or outdoor living.

Natural health, well-being and beauty retailer Amaranth Wellbeingis opening a store in The Arcade, while Søstrene Grene, the Danish homewares store, has opened its fourth UK store on Cross Street.

Finally, a lease agreement has also been secured with Gym Squared, a new premium gym facility and café, which will be opening in The Arcade in summer 2020.

The festive celebrations at the Royal Exchange Manchester will peak Saturday, December 14, with an afternoon of luxury Christmas shopping. With many stores offering special discounts, promotions, prize-drawings and gift-wrapping, shoppers will be serenaded by carol singers and string quartets, while recharging their batteries with complimentary prosecco and mince pies.

The Royal Exchange has undergone a dramatic transformation over the past two years, with many new stores and eateries opening creating a real buzz. The mix of luxury high street and boutique independents includes brands such as Watches of Switzerland, French Connection, Molton Brown, L’Occitane, Fjallraven, Jenny Jones Jewellery and Lanigan & Hulme.

Emme Haycock, asset manager for Hines UK, said, “It’s a fantastic time to be opening more new stores as we approach the busy Christmas period. The Royal Exchange Manchester continues to attract an exciting range of retail talent and we are pleased to be welcoming these new retailers into the mix.”

The Royal Exchange Manchester sits in the heart of the city centre and is populated by luxury high-street brands, independent boutiques shops, cafes and restaurants, as well as being home to the Royal Exchange Theatre.

Hines acquired The Royal Exchange Manchester in November 2016 on behalf of Bayerische Versorgungskammer (BVK), Germany’s largest pension scheme group. This letting is part of Hines’ strategy to reposition the tenant mix to reinforce the Grade II listed Royal Exchange building as a prestigious location in Manchester’s retail landscape.

Hines is a privately owned global real estate investment firm founded in 1957 with a presence in 219 cities in 23 countries. Hines has approximately $124.3 billion of assets under management, including $63.8 billion for which Hines provides fiduciary investment management services, and $60.5 billion for which Hines provides third-party property-level services. The firm has 148 developments currently underway around the world. Historically, Hines has developed, redeveloped or acquired 1,362 properties, totaling over 449 million square feet. The firm’s current property and asset management portfolio includes 514 properties, representing over 222 million square feet. With extensive experience in investments across the risk spectrum and all property types, and a pioneering commitment to sustainability, Hines is one of the largest and most-respected real estate organizations in the world. Visit www.hines.com for more information.

Since entering Europe in 1991, Hines has grown its European platform to include offices in 16 cities as well as a presence in 47 cities in 12 countries, ​with €18.2 billion of assets under management in Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Spain and the United Kingdom.