Member Article

FHP delivers double deal as leisure brands choose Birmingham

Leading commercial property consultancy, FHP, has secured the first Midlands venues for two popular London-based leisure brands.

The consultancy has completed a double deal that will bring trendy darts bar, The Flight Club and sourdough pizza chain, Franco Manca to Birmingham city centre.

FHP has let 3 floors at 13 Temple Street to Flight Club, a social darts concept that opened its first venue in Shoreditch in 2015. The darts bar chain, which also has branches in London’s Bloomsbury and Chicago plans to serve high quality food, cocktails, wines and beers.

Pizza chain, Franco Manca has agreed a 15-year lease at 19 Bennett’s Hill, the vacant former home of Nationwide Building Society, which it will convert into a Neapolitan-inspired restaurant. The sourdough pizza specialist has more than 40 outlets across the UK, the majority of which are based in London.

The two deals represent positive news for Birmingham city centre, which was recently dealt a blow following the sudden closure of four food and beverage outlets.

Doug Tweedie, FHP Director and Head of Birmingham office, said: “I am delighted with both lettings to occupiers who are not only new to Birmingham city centre, but represent firsts for the region. Despite a backdrop of recent negativity, Birmingham’s bar and restaurant scene continues to go from strength to strength and now genuinely competes at the highest level with other major UK cities.

“The Flight Club deal was a highly complicated transaction involving five different parties but having found a structure that works for everybody, I cannot wait to see it open this summer. Temple Street has transformed significantly over the last few years and leisure rents have doubled, although we see no reason why rents should fall below the current tone given a shortage of supply and little let up in demand. In addition we saw a significant amount of interest in the Bennett’s Hill property, receiving over six offers. I have no doubt we picked the right operator in Franco Manca which will deliver a very high quality product and fit-out.”

FHP opened its first West Midlands office at 122 Colmore Row in Birmingham in February this year. The property consultancy is currently working on a number of projects across the region.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Martin Hicks .