LGIM Real Assets (Legal & General) announces that it has secured a new letting to toyshop The Entertainer as part of the £18.5 million refurbishment of The Grafton, Cambridge. New to Cambridge, the popular toyshop will be opening in the 500,000 sq. ft. shopping and leisure destination, which is benefitting from an extensive refurbishment to create an even more vibrant shopping environment and improved visitor experience.
The biggest independent toy retailer in the UK, The Entertainer will be taking a ground floor unit, totaling 4,800 sq. ft., on a 12-year lease. Offering a range of toys from a variety of brands, The Entertainer will appeal to the families of Cambridge, and add something new to The Grafton’s existing retailer mix.
Gary Grant, co-founder of The Entertainer, said: “We are delighted to be opening a store in The Grafton in Cambridge. The centre is very popular with families, which is the perfect demographic for us. We’re excited about the changes that are taking place at The Grafton, and are looking forward to being part of a revitalised shopping and leisure destination that the people of Cambridge will love even more.”
Tom Williams, Senior Asset Manager, Legal & General, commented: “The Entertainer is a great fit for The Grafton, and complements our vision for the centre. Cambridge is a growing city, and once the refurbishment is complete, The Grafton will provide an exciting retail and leisure destination for everyone to enjoy”.
The new letting announcement comes as works on site have commenced and are progressing at a good pace. Phase 1 works are well under way to create a striking double height entrance at Fitzroy Street as well the replacement of floor, ceiling and wall finishes and double height shopfronts to some of the larger stores. Phase 2 works will kick-start this November to deliver a new glazed roof for Central Mall, as well as new lighting and cladding throughout the centre.
While the work is being carried out, it is very much business as usual for retailers at The Grafton. Working closely with contractors ISG, the centre management is committed to keeping disruption to a minimum during the refurbishment.
Legal & General is investing £18.5 million to rejuvenate The Grafton, which includes 500,000 sq. ft. of retail and leisure space, an eight-screen Vue cinema and a 1,150-space car park. The refurbishment of the centre will include the reconfiguration of retail space to create new units, attract new retailers and increase footfall to the centre, as well as plans to create a new F&B quarter, to enhance the existing leisure offering.
The refurbishment of The Grafton is being managed by Wrenbridge, a London and Cambridge-based developer. Corstorphine & Wright are the architects for the project and Bidwells and Strutt & Parker are the agents.
