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Industries & Sectors

Retail & Leisure

Transforming communities through better retail strategies

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Opening a new brick-and-mortar store is more complex than ever.

We guide brands, investors, and landlords through the bustling UK retail and leisure property market. Our advisors combine deep sector expertise with local market knowledge to create strategies that truly deliver.

The British high street is evolving. Shoppers now expect greater digital integration, sustainability, and unique experiences. We help you navigate the complexities of planning regulations and lease agreements to uncover real commercial opportunities. Whether you're securing a new location, purchasing property, or upgrading your existing assets, our specialists provide the insights you need to succeed.

What Sets Us Apart

Retail Strategies That Work Locally

UK retail success needs local insight. Our advisors analyse demographics, transport, and competition against lease terms and costs. We secure sites that boost brand presence and deliver sustainable unit economics, from Central London flagships to regional rollouts.

Investor Expertise Designed for Change

UK retail investment requires specialist knowledge. We advise on acquisitions, disposals, and repositioning across high streets, shopping centres, and retail parks. We help you understand how ESG, planning, and occupier trends affect asset value and performance.

Insights That Anticipate the Future

Consumer behaviour shifts rapidly. We monitor spending habits, leisure preferences, and occupational demand. By combining proprietary data with local expertise from across the UK, we help our clients stay ahead of change.

Tailored Solutions That Deliver Results

No two retail projects are the same. Our teams bring innovative problem-solving to every brief, from complex lease restructures to multi-site rollouts. We provide strategies tailored to the specific commercial objectives of each client.

Advisors Who Think Like Retailers

Retail property decisions require creativity and commercial insight. Our specialists have years of experience advising leading brands and investors. We understand what drives footfall and how property strategy connects to business performance.

Creating Places That Perform and Belong

The best retail destinations serve their communities. By aligning location strategies with local preferences, we help create retail and leisure environments that deliver lasting value for occupiers, landlords, and neighbourhoods.

Services

Investor Services

Capital Markets


We advise investors and landlords on UK retail property acquisitions, disposals, and portfolio strategies. Our specialists integrate transaction expertise with sector knowledge, offering access to institutional capital, private equity, and family office buyers to deliver results.

Learn more about our capital markets

Agency Leasing


Our leasing teams connect landlords with occupiers across all retail formats, from luxury flagships to local convenience stores. We handle marketing strategy, tenant negotiations, and lease documentation to ensure optimal occupancy and rental performance for your assets.

Learn more about our agency leasing services

Asset Services


We offer full asset management for retail and leisure properties, focusing on tenant retention, operational efficiency, and value enhancement. Our teams manage everything from service charges to capital expenditure planning, ensuring your assets perform consistently.

Learn more about our asset services

Valuation & Advisory


Our RICS-accredited specialists deliver accurate, independent appraisals for UK retail and leisure assets. We provide timely, compliant valuations for financial reporting, secured lending, and investment decisions that reflect current market conditions and future potential.

Learn more about our valuation & advisory 

Project & Development Services


We guide owners and investors through UK retail development and refurbishment projects from concept to completion. Our teams manage design, planning, and construction to protect your investment, ensuring schemes are delivered on time, on budget, and are primed for long-term commercial success and value enhancement.

Learn more about our project development services 

Sustainability Services


We help property owners and investors implement value-adding ESG strategies for their retail assets. Our guidance on energy-efficient retrofits, green building certifications, and regulatory compliance helps reduce operating costs, future-proof your portfolio, and attract high-quality tenants and capital.

Learn more about our sustainability services 


Occupier Services

Tenant Representation


We help occupiers secure retail space across the UK, from single units to national rollouts. Our services include site selection, lease negotiation, and deal execution to match your brand's commercial goals.

Learn more about our tenant representation

Location & Labour Analytics


Choosing the right location is critical. Our analytics teams offer demographic insights, catchment mapping, and competitor profiling to minimise risk and maximise your retail success.

Learn more about our workplace solutions

Project & Development Services


We specialise in managing occupier-focused projects, from design and construction to refurbishment and fit-outs. Our team ensures projects are delivered on time, on budget, and aligned with your operational goals.

Learn more about our project development services

Facility Services


We provide facility management for retail properties, covering maintenance, security, cleaning, and vendor management to ensure efficient operations and exceptional experiences.

Sustainability Services


Sustainability is at the core of modern occupier strategies. We provide solutions to help you reduce your carbon footprint, implement energy efficiency measures, and meet environmental compliance, ensuring your retail operations are sustainable and future-proof.

Learn more about our sustainability services

Team

Marcus-Wood-Head-of-Retail -Leisure-Investment
Marcus Wood

Head of Retail & Leisure Investment
London, United Kingdom

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Contact us

Research

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Article • Economy

Kinetic Energy - UK Real Estate and the wider implications of the Iran conflict

The US–Israeli military campaign against Iran that began on 28th February and the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz have removed millions of barrels of daily supply from the market. On 9th March 2026, Brent crude spiked to $119.50 per barrel, the first time oil had traded above $100 since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Jason Winfield • 31/03/2026
Generic-UK-Inside-Building-750x456
Insights • Investment / Capital Markets

Stamp Duty Calculator

Calculate commercial stamp duty (SDLT) for UK property purchases with Cushman & Wakefield's free calculator. Covers England, Scotland, Wales & NI
20/01/2026
UK Autumn Budget response image.jpeg
Insights • Economy

Autumn Budget: Implications for real estate

The well-documented tightening that the Chancellor had to go through was always going to make this a difficult Budget in order to comply with her fiscal rules – with headroom of just £9.9 billion left at the last budget. 
Daryl Perry • 27/11/2025
business stocks
Article • Economy

Business Rates – Can the Government Deliver?

Six months on from the election, we look at the changes announced by the Chancellor in her Budget, the likely impact of next year’s 2026 revaluation, and answer whether the Government is delivering its promises. 
Mike Flecknoe • 31/01/2025
office buildings
Insights • Sustainability / ESG

Complete Asset Optimisation Guide

Discover expert strategies for optimising logistics, retail, and office real estate assets. Gain insights to maximise returns and improve performance.
Andie Penman • 29/02/2024
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Article • Food & Beverage

The UK F&B Sector Is Serving Up Reasons To Be Cheerful

Food inflation and menu prices are at an all-time high meaning operators must be creative. Already pioneering brands are revisiting where they source their produce and are changing their menus to serve local and in-season food. 

Matthew Englender • 06/09/2023
Future of Food Chains
Research • Food & Beverage

Future of Food Chains

Real estate plays a critical role in facilitating structural changes in food chains, and through this report we hope to educate, challenge and broaden the thinking of decision makers within the real estate sector.
Edward Bavister • 15/06/2023
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Article • Sustainability / ESG

Shaping a Sustainable and Successful Fashion Brand

Introducing the C&W Sustainability Series, the first in a series of regular articles published throughout 2023 on ESG in Real Estate.
Jennifer Milne • 18/04/2023
emea-macro-outlook-mobile
Research • Economy

European Macro Outlook: What’s in a number?

Two consecutive quarters of negative growth is the technical definition of a recession. There has been a great deal of debate on whether the economies of the euro area and the UK are in a recession.
Sukhdeep Dhillon • 03/03/2023
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

We provide full occupier representation services for businesses seeking space on British high streets, shopping centres, or retail parks. Our experts conduct market analysis, identify suitable properties, negotiate lease or purchase terms, and oversee transactions. We help you navigate local planning regulations, lease agreements, and pricing dynamics to secure the right location for your goals.

We help occupiers integrate sustainability factors into their location strategy and lease terms. This includes sourcing properties with strong environmental credentials, negotiating green lease clauses, and advising on energy efficiency upgrades. Our sustainability experts collaborate with leasing teams to ensure prime locations meet corporate ESG commitments while lowering operational costs.

Successful retail investment in the UK requires evaluating several factors: tenant covenant strength, lease structures, planning flexibility, ESG compliance, and local market conditions. We advise investors on due diligence, repositioning strategies, and disposal timing. Our capital markets teams combine market intelligence with execution expertise to navigate the nuances of business rates, planning policies, and tenant demand trends.

We provide international retailers with detailed insights into UK consumer preferences, regulatory systems, and competitive landscapes. Our services include market entry strategies, site selection, lease negotiations, and operational support. We help brands navigate the unique aspects of UK business rates, planning systems, and lease structures to minimise risks and accelerate growth.

Strategic retail property decisions are key to business success. We help occupiers and landlords create location strategies, optimise portfolios, and reposition assets to boost efficiency and improve customer experiences. This includes evaluating store networks, identifying underperforming sites, analysing market opportunities, and developing data-driven strategies that support long-term growth and profitability.

WANT TO KNOW MORE?

If you would like to find out more about our specific expertise, or discover how we could work with your company, please contact a member of our team – we’d be delighted to hear from you.
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