American fast-food giant Wendy's has opened its doors at Touchwood shopping centre in Solihull, marking a strategic expansion of the retail and leisure destination's food and beverage offering. The restaurant, which launched on 18 September, represents the chain's sole presence in the West Midlands region.
The brand has committed to a 15-year lease on unit 48A, a 285 m² space within Touchwood's Jubilee Walk dining quarter. The restaurant joins an established lineup including Wagamama, Nando's, and Pizza Express, alongside competitive socialising operator Spinners and a Cineworld cinema.
For investors, the deal signals robust occupier demand in the West Midlands retail sector, with Wendy's choosing Touchwood over competing locations for its regional flagship. The 15-year lease term, significantly longer than typical high street commitments, demonstrates confidence in the asset's long-term viability and suggests stable income potential for the scheme's owners.
Since acquiring Touchwood in 2021, owner The Ardent Companies and asset manager Sovereign Centros from CBRE have pursued an active asset management strategy, diversifying the tenant mix beyond traditional retail. The scheme's existing brands include Apple, which recently expanded its footprint threefold, alongside John Lewis, Mango, Rituals, Tag Heuer, Miele, and Oliver Bonas.
"Our approach focuses on bringing the brands and operators to Touchwood that people want to see, and Wendy's certainly comes under that banner. This is a major US brand, choosing Touchwood for its only West Midlands restaurant, and we're excited to see its arrival as part of our wider expansion of the destination's leisure and dining offer," said Simon Phipps of Sovereign Centros from CBRE.
Cushman & Wakefield and Knight Frank serve as retained leasing agents for the property.
People mentioned:
Simon Phipps, Sovereign Centros from CBRE
Companies mentioned:
Wendy's, restaurant operator
Touchwood shopping centre, retail and leisure destination
The Ardent Companies, owner
Sovereign Centros from CBRE, asset manager
Cushman & Wakefield, leasing agent
Knight Frank, leasing agent
Wagamama, restaurant operator
Nando's, restaurant operator
Pizza Express, restaurant operator
Spinners, leisure operator
Cineworld, cinema operator
Apple, retailer
John Lewis, retailer
Mango, retailer
Rituals, retailer
Tag Heuer, retailer
Miele, retailer
Oliver Bonas, retailer
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