Catalyst Bags Harrods For Henley Retail Development Bought From Administrators
Tenants can be hard to come by for new developments in today’s tough retail climate. But the appeal of well-off towns in the South East was shown when Catalyst Capital secured perhaps the most famous name in British retail for a new scheme — Harrods.
The famous department store has agreed to take a stand-alone store — its first outside of its famous Knightsbridge home and small airport locations — at Catalyst’s Gardiner Place in Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire. Gardiner Place will be a 28K SF scheme attached to a Waitrose supermarket that will comprise 14 retail and restaurant units.
Harrods is planning an original offering at the scheme. Its store will be a high-end bistro that will take inspiration from its roastery and bake hall, alongside an innovative click and collect offer at first-floor level that will include customer changing rooms and a personal shopper experience, Harrods said. No need to catch a train or schlep along the M4 to pick up your hamper or eye-wateringly expensive shirt.
Catalyst bought the development scheme in 2015 as part of a £54M portfolio acquired out of administration following the collapse of De Stefano Property Group. Having secured anchor tenants it will now begin development. GCW and Lunson Mitchell are the leasing agents.
