Oliver Bonas, the independent lifestyle brand, has signed for its first store in Essex, with the retailer securing a 4,000 sq ft regional flagship at Aquila Holdings’ Bond Street mall in Chelmsford.
In addition to Oliver Bonas, Aquila has signed Clarendon Fine Art and Giggling Squid, with the three together totalling 10,000 sq ft of space:
Set to open this summer, Oliver Bonas is one of five new brands to have committed to Bond Street post-lockdown as the centre demonstrates its resilience and ability to attract the best retail and culinary operators.
Clarendon Fine Art has opened a 2,000 sq ft gallery at Bond Street. With its flagship gallery on Dover Street in Mayfair, Clarendon’s Bond Street location is the brand’s latest regional boutique and its first in Essex
Giggling Squid, the BGF-backed Thai restaurant chain founded by Andy and Pranee Laurillard in Hove in 2009, is to launch a 3,800 sq ft restaurant with a further 1,100 sq ft riverfront dining terrace.
Elsewhere, Spritz Social, an al fresco al fresco bar serving craft beer, cocktails, champagne, Aperol Spritz and food able to be ordered from nearby Bond Street operators via QR codes.
And The Pop-Up Club also opened a 2,500 sq ft store showcasing over 55 local and independent lifestyle brands including, beautiful hand-made jewellery, terrariums and plant-based home decoration makers.
Dominic Chambers, managing director of Aquila, commented: “These lettings reaffirm Bond Street as the region’s premium shopping and leisure destination. Oliver Bonas, Clarendon Fine Art and Giggling Squid complement and strengthen our aspirational tenant mix, while the collaborations with Spritz Social and The Pop-Up Club have energised our outdoor space and provided a platform for local independent traders within the destination.
CBRE and Jamieson Mills acted for Bond Street. Colliers represented Oliver Bonas, Lawson Hubbard Lowe acted for Clarendon Fine Art, AG&G for Giggling Squid and Spritz Social dealt direct.
