Chequers shopping centre - Retail - Maidstone, Chequers shopping centre

Date: 14 Jan 1999

Four more retailers have acquired units at the 37,160 sq m (400,000 sq ft) Chequers shopping centre in Maidstone, Kent. The lettings cap a heady 24 months for the three-level centre during which time there has been a £4 million enhancement and extension and 24 retailers have taken new leases.

In the latest round of lettings, Style Fashions Ltd trading as Morgan has taken a 10-year lease on a 71.5 sq m (770 sq ft) unit for its ladieswear store. The rent is £32,500 per annum. The store, located on the King Street level of the scheme, is adjacent to Superdrug and opposite Vision Express.

CLS Supplies trading as Card Hall has opened a 185 sq m (1,990 sq ft) outlet with store fascias facing both Peacocks and Boots. The independent card retailer is paying £50,000 per annum.

House of Wax trading as Paper Wax has taken a new lease on Unit 1B in the reconfigured Eastern Wing of the Chequers. The candies and gifts retailer is paying a rent of £50,000 per annum for the 1,520 sq ft unit which will be adjacent to Morgan and opposite Vision Express.

Finally, computer hardware retailer Time Computers has taken unit on the King Street level which incorporates 71 sq m (765 sq ft) of retail and ancillary space. The unit is opposite Bhs.

The Chequers Centre is located in the heart of Maidstone and is anchored by tenants including Bhs, Boots, J Sainsbury, Next, Superdrug, Miss Selfridge and Adams. It is asset managed by St Quintin on behalf of the owners, The Stoneborough Trust. The £4 million programme of works was completed earlier in 1998. Those works include included additional and reconfigured units, high-profiled asymmetric entrances and improvements to the integral bus interchange.

Previously, Bon March6 took a 15-year lease on a 438 sq m (4,716 sq ft) unit on the King Street Level of the centre. The £150,000 per annum rent equates to Zone A of £110 for the scheme.

Wilkinson also opened a 3,226 sq m (34,722 sq ft) store while, more recently, Peacocks acquired a 619 sq m (6,666 sq ft) unit on the King Street level of the scheme in the reconfigured Eastern wing of the centre. Thorntons, Sports Soccer, Linen Factory, Half Price Jewellers and The Pocket Phone Shop are among those who have also opened at the centre.

Comments Roger Fulford of St Quintin:

"These latest lettings reaffirm continued retailer recognition that the Chequers is a mainstay destination for shoppers. That recognition is attributable to two factors - the strength of the tenant mix and that a substantial proportion of the catchment population shops there and does so on a regular basis."

Morgan, House of Wax and CLS were self-represented. Time Computers was represented by Molyneux Rose (0171 409 01 30).

Where do I go now?: » View the latest news items » View the news archive » Subscribe to Weekly Property Newsletter » Submit news