The Lexicon welcomes host of new occupiers amid action-packed summer events programme

• The Lexicon, one of the Thames Valley’s leading retail, F&B, and leisure destinations, has added a range of high-profile occupiers to its diverse tenant mix 
• These lettings follow The Lexicon’s recent international recognition at the International Council of Shopping Centers Awards
• The centre also hosted an action-packed events calendar for the local community over the summer 

The Lexicon, owned by a joint venture between Schroders Capital UK Real Estate Fund (SCREF) and Legal & General Capital, has secured new lettings to Giggling Squid, Søstrene Grene, Robert Dyas, Five Guys, ChopStix, German Doner Kebab, Tortilla, and Mr Simms who have taken a combined 23,500 sq ft of retail and F&B space at the Bracknell-based destination.

This strong leasing activity highlights continued strong demand for well-placed units within popular retail and leisure destinations, with the centre now 94 percent let by floor area.

Leading the new arrivals is popular Thai eatery Giggling Squid who opened a new 4,750 sq ft outlet earlier this summer, adding to The Lexicon’s renowned F&B offering. The Lexicon has also welcomed growing Danish retail chain Søstrene Grene and well-known home store Robert Dyas. Both are occupying units on Braccan Walk with Søstrene Grene taking 6,000 sq ft of space.  Søstrene Grene’s new, unique store concept ‘Retail for the Senses’ offers a wide assortment within home interiors, furniture, hobby items, kitchen supplies, children’s toys, specialty food and candy, gift-wrapping, and party supplies. Each week, all Søstrene Grene shops receive a wealth of new, exciting products, and some are only sold for limited periods. Meanwhile, Robert Dyas, which opened at the end of August, occupies a 4,000 sq ft unit providing shoppers with a range of housewares, small electrical appliances, gardening products, kitchenware, DIY, and consumer electronics.

Five Guys, the iconic American burger chain, has also opened a 3,500 sq ft outlet on Braccan Walk. This new outlet is the chain’s first restaurant within Berkshire and is demonstrative of the firm’s commitment to growth across South-East England. Meanwhile, ChopStix, a quick-service Pan-Asian eatery, opened its first destination in Bracknell earlier this year – and has now signed a 10-year lease for a 2,000 sq ft unit at The Lexicon.

Continental F&B chain German Doner Kebab’s has also opened a new 2,000 sq ft store on the high street next to Santander. With stores already open in Reading and Slough, this new letting is a sign of the strong demand for the chain’s offerings from Berkshire residents. Additionally, Tortilla, who already operates stores in Reading and Bracknell, has opened a new 700 sq ft outlet – bringing a new Mexican offering to The Lexicon.

Meanwhile, Mr Simms Sweet Shop, the UK’s largest chain of traditional sweet shops, will be opening its first outlet in Bracknell after signing a 10-year lease for a 500 sq ft unit at The Lexicon. The new Mr Simms Store is located on the high street and takes occupancy at that part of The Lexicon to almost 100%. Established in 2004, Mr Simms has over 80 sweet shops open worldwide and offers a collection of traditional and contemporary sweets as well as Pick’n Mix.

Alongside the new arrivals, the leasing team managing the The Lexicon also completed several lease renewals and re-gears with popular occupiers including Fat Face, Mountain Warehouse, Flying Tiger, Timberland, Clintons, Costa, L’Occitane, and New Look. The combination of these lease renewals and the run of new arrivals ensures The Lexicon continues to have a quality mix of tenants maintaining its position as one of the region’s leading retail, F&B, and leisure destinations.

As well as the run of recent leasing activity, several initiatives for the local community have been hosted in The Lexicon. This includes the opening of the new Craft Coop store in Princess Square which showcases products produced by craftspeople and talent makers from the surrounding area.

Elsewhere, The Lexicon hosted Bracknell Forest’s first ever Pride event which celebrated the diversity of the LGBTQIA+ community. The free family-friendly event – which was produced in collaboration with members of the borough’s LGBTQIA+ community – saw acts and performers take the stage throughout the day and included musicians, dancers and drag queens. The Lexicon also launched a huge new bee hotel that local schools and participants in the half term craft classes created for the town centre bee garden. The Lexicon’s Bee Aware Week saw the centre partner with nature club Little Muddy Boots to teach over 1,000 local children about the importance of bees and pollinators. Meanwhile, The Lexicon welcomed the Princess of Wales who visited the Vsi Razom Community Hub in Princess Square which works with young Ukrainians to provide donations of essential items which are sent to those impacted by the conflict in the region.

Bracknell Pride and the Bee Hotel craft classes were part of a series of summer events which have been held at The Lexicon which also includes ‘Follow The Yellow Brick Road’ a collaborative project bringing together South Hill Park Arts Centre, The Lexicon, and Bracknell Forest Borough Council to offer creative, engaging activities for all ages. The interactive promenade performance, inspired by ‘The Wonderful Wizard of Oz’, saw South Hill Park Arts Centre transformed into Kansas and the Land of Oz, while The Lexicon becomes the Emerald City. Alongside the performance, the “Emerald City” hosted various engagement activities, including arts and crafts sessions, a treasure hunt, a giant puppet, and an Oz-inspired visual arts installation that combines art and science.

The Lexicon also captured a prestigious international retail award, with The Bracknell Forest Giants activation earning gold at the 2023 International Council of Shopping Centre Awards. The activation was recognised within the Experiential Single Marketplace Category – for projects totalling $200,000 or more – with the award highlighting the Giants’ ability to reflect Bracknell’s exceptional green belt.

The gold award highlighted the 23 percent increase in footfall across The Lexicon and Bracknell town centre as well as the 125,000 physical interactions with the Forest Giants during the event. The judges also recognised how over 40 retailers and restaurants got involved with the activation through special offers, giant-themed dishes, or participating in the town-wide giant footsteps trail – as 75 percent reported a significant uplift in sales. Visitors also spent 58 percent more on food and drink – and £6,045 was raised for The Lexicon’s Charity Fund – The Forest Friends Den.

Tom Woolven, Asset Manager at Schroders Capital’s Real Estate team, commented: “These latest lettings and international awards demonstrate how The Lexicon’s innovative urban design has enabled the Schroders Capital team to attract leading retail and F&B brands despite a challenging retail market nationally. The new recent lettings, along with several exciting new arrivals due to be announced later this year, combined with the plans to further enhance the centre and a host of regular community events will ensure The Lexicon remains a thriving retail destination which continues to attract people from across the Thames Valley and beyond.”

Lunson Mitchenall and CBRE are The Lexicon’s retained letting agents.