New Wetherspoon pub coming to Kenilworth after Wareing & Co agree deal

Pub operator Wetherspoon is set to invest £2 million to open a new outlet in the centre of Kenilworth after a deal was agreed on a key property.

The former Poundland in The Square, Kenilworth, in the heart of the town centre, is set to open as a Wetherspoon pub.

Wetherspoon will occupy all of the ground and first floor of the building, comprising 5,500 sq ft on each floor.  The transaction was arranged via Leamington-based property consultants, Wareing & Company.

The building had been used as a Poundland store prior to it being closed in January 2020 and has remained unoccupied ever since.

Wetherspoon is expected to create 60 jobs in the Warwickshire town when it opens.

Wetherspoon spokesman Eddie Gershon said: “We are delighted to have purchased the site.

“We have enjoyed great success in the region and hope that our investment will act as a catalyst for other businesses to invest in Kenilworth.”

Bill Wareing, of Wareing & Company added: “It’s great to see a major national name like Wetherspoon investing in the heart of Kenilworth by purchasing this building.  It’s a great location in the heart of the town with public car parks close by.

“Kenilworth still achieves a good level of town centre footfall compared to towns of similar sizes and this has proved attractive to Wetherspoons.  This deal shows confidence in the high street post-COVID, and we are looking forward to seeing this enterprise open and attract more people to Kenilworth town centre.”

Specialist blinds firm moving to new Warwick HQ

A specialist blinds company whose products feature on striking buildings around the world is set to start a new chapter after a move to a new HQ in Warwick was agreed thanks to Wareing & Company.

Guthrie Douglas creates unique blinds for a wide range of extraordinary buildings, including Covent Garden in London, the Etihad Towers in Abu Dhabi, and the Broad Museum in Los Angeles.

After embarking on a large recruitment drive and acquiring another blinds company, Shy, in 2022, Guthrie Douglas wanted to move to a larger office and manufacturing complex while not moving far away from its former base at Heathcote Way in Warwick.

Now, the company is set to move to Unit 3 at Titan Business Centre after Jonathan Blood, director at Wareing & Company, agreed a deal.

David Slade, partner at Leamington Spa law firm Wright Hassall, advised Guthrie Douglas on the legal aspects of the move.

The site features 31,422 sq ft of floor space, including a large warehouse, a two-storey office, and electrically-operated roller shutter doors.

Andrew Kitching, Managing Director of Guthrie Douglas, said: “Our acquisition of Shy and our recruitment push brought the company up from 15 employees to around 50, and we wanted to consolidate the team at a new HQ where we could double our capacity.

“We wanted to stay in Warwick if possible as it’s always been our home, and we knew Wareing & Company has a great knowledge of the market here, so we approached them to help our search.

“When we saw the unit at Titan Business Centre, it just ticked a lot of boxes for us. It has ample space for manufacturing our products, dedicated office space, and a pleasant mezzanine area where we can bring clients.

“We were only too happy to agree terms, and aim to start our phased move-in in April before fully moving in during the summer.

“This will be a new chapter for Guthrie Douglas, and we’re confident our new home at Titan Business Centre will allow us to reach new heights.”

Jonathan Blood, director at Wareing & Company, said: “Titan Business Centre is a popular estate for growing businesses like Guthrie Douglas, and benefits from its superb location in Warwick, being just a stone’s throw from the M40 and A46.

“It’s brilliant to see such an ambitious company choose to stay in Warwick, and highlights the strength of the market in this region.”

David Slade, a partner in Wright Hassall’s commercial real estate team, added: “Guthrie Douglas is a real success story in our region and it’s great to help with the next stage of its growth plans.”

Leamington jewellers set to triple in size after Wareing & Company seals move

A Leamington jewellers which dates back to the 19th century is set to triple in size by moving to a bigger premises in the town centre after a Wareing & Company completed a deal.

Tustains Jewellers, founded in 1895, is set to move into a 3,260 sq ft unit at Satchwell Court – three times larger than its current shop on Regent Street – just outside the entrance to the Royal Priors Shopping Centre.

The company, which sells a variety of luxury watches and fine jewellery including bespoke items, is confident the move will boost its turnover and is aiming to hire new staff for the new store.

The move was sealed after Wareing & Company agreed the deal with Tustains on behalf of the freehold owners of Royal Priors Shopping Centre.

Tom Milner, Director of Tustains, said: “Luxury retail requires space, particularly for multi-brand showrooms such as ours. Hospitality at the new store will be essential and we will be able to show a much more comprehensive collection from each watchmaker.

“We had wanted to move stores for a while, but part of the problem in finding a new home has always been that our location was already right.

“So when Wareing & Company showed us the unit on Satchwell Court, we knew it would be an excellent new home for us.

“It offers the same location on the right part of Regent Street, but also catches the footfall through the Royal Priors. We also like the presence of the wide frontage and the courtyard.

“This is a big step up for Tustains, and we are looking forward to opening the new store in the near future.”

Bill Wareing, owner of Wareing & Company, added: “Tustains has been a well-respected name in Leamington for more than 120 years, so to agree a deal to not only keep the business in the town but allow the team to fulfil their ambitions and bring jobs to the area is fantastic news.

“It is a great vote of confidence in town-centre retail, with the unit at Satchwell Court being among the most prominent in Leamington town centre.

“We hope the move allows Tustains to continue to flourish in Leamington and enable more people to earn a living within the town.”