Hammerson is pleased to announce that Victoria Gate, Leeds is to debut Cornish lifestyle brand, Seasalt. Victoria Gate is Hammerson’s iconic and modern interpretation of the Grade II listed arcades of Victoria Quarter, and forms part of the Victoria Leeds estate.
Seasalt’s new 1,200sq ft (111sqm) store will be situated alongside Calvin Klein in the South Arcade of Victoria Gate. The brand is a complementary addition to the existing line up of retailers, including Joules, Gant and Tommy Hilfiger.
Renowned for its maritime-inspired clothing and accessories, the Seasalt team design the range from their studios beside the sea in Falmouth, Cornwall, giving a truly authentic feel of coastal living. With beautiful and practical designs, Seasalt will offer Leeds shoppers its popular womenswear, accessories and footwear collections.
This will be the brand’s fifth shop in Yorkshire having already gained a strong northern following. Its new store in Victoria Gate is an important move to further strengthen its presence in the region. Welcoming Seasalt to Leeds follows a number of firsts for the city in the past 18 months, with the opening of Victoria Gate bringing a flagship John Lewis, as well as Aspinal of London, Neom Organics and T2 as well as many others.
This latest letting builds on what has been a record leasing period for Hammerson across its business having recorded a 34% rise in volumes during 2017 compared to the prior year. By creating the space that today’s retailers need to showcase their brands, Hammerson achieved the highest level of lettings than in any other year in its 75-year history and occupancy across the group was at a 17-year high at 98.3%.
Iain Mitchell, UK Commercial Director, commented: “We are really looking forward to welcoming Seasalt into Victoria Gate. The brand is the perfect addition to the line-up of aspirational and lifestyle brands the arcade is already home to, and I am confident its first store in Leeds will be extremely popular with our shoppers.”
Neil Chadwick, Seasalt co-founder and chairman, added: “We’re thrilled to be able to bring Seasalt to a city as full of character as Leeds. It’s a brilliant location with great history and beautiful architecture. We’re looking forward to welcoming everyone to our new shop.”
ENDS