“Brora”, Guildford – Premium Brand South East Retail Investment
152 High Street | Guildford | GU1 3HJ
£1,260,000
subject to contract
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GALLERY
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Summary
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Wealthy South East commuter town
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Highly attractive, prime retail investment
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Let to the premium brand retailer “Brora”
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Rent rebased in November 2021 – 16% below previous rental level
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October 2021 break option moved to October 2024, demonstrating tenant’s commitment to the property
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The unit has been fitted out to a very high standard
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Grade II Listed (no empty rates payable)
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Freehold
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£1,260,000, subject to contract
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Net Initial Yield – 6.00%
Location
Guildford is a prosperous commuter town in the county of Surrey located approximately 50 km (31 miles) south west of Central London, 60 km (37 miles) north west of Crawley and 48.5 km (30 miles) east of Basingstoke.
The town benefits from good road communications and is served by A3 Dual Carriageway which links directly to Junction 10 of the M25 Motorway approximately 13 km (8 miles) to the north east and the M27 Motorway which lies 65 km (40 miles) to the south west. The A31 also passes through the town which links with Junction 4 of the M3 Motorway via the A331 at Frimley approximately 23.5 km (14.5 miles) to the north west and to Winchester approximately 62 km (38.5 miles) to the south west.
Mainline rail services from Guildford Railway Station to London Waterloo run daily with a fastest journey time of approximately 32 minutes.
Heathrow Airport is approximately 43 km (22 miles) to the north and Gatwick Airport is approximately 54.5 km (34 miles) to the south east providing flights to numerous national and international destinations throughout Europe and the rest of the world.
Situation
The property is situated in the heart of the town centre on the south side of the pedestrianised High Street where the prime retail offer in Guildford is focused.
Surrounding occupiers include many well-known high street brands such as Sainsbury’s (adjacent) along with numerous high end luxury fashion retailers such as Barbour, Hugo Boss, White Stuff, Ted Baker, Lululemon, Molton Brown and Hobbs.
In addition, Guildford boasts three shopping centres known as The Friary, Tunsgate Quarter and White Lion Walk Shopping Centre. The entrance to Tunsgate Quarter is immediately to the west of the subject property. Comprising 7,432 sq m (80,000 sq ft) set over three levels, the retail line-up includes Loaf, OKA, The White Company, Design Vintage, Nespresso, Bobbi Brown, Clark’s and David Clulow. Restaurants include the world-famous The Ivy, award-winning GAIL’s Bakery and Cosy Club.
Description
The property comprises a Grade II listed building providing a ground floor retail unit with ancillary accommodation on first and second floors. Internally, the retail floor area has been fitted out by the tenant to an exceptionally high standard – please see the photo gallery and video.
Accommodation
The property has been measured by BKR Floor Plans and provides the following Net Internal floor areas:
Net Frontage | 5.46 m | 17’11” |
Gross Frontage | 5.79 m | 19’0” |
Zone A | 32.14 sq m | 346 sq ft |
Zone B | 24.53 sq m | 264 sq ft |
Zone C | 18.67 sq m | 201 sq ft |
Remainder | 13.10 sq m | 141 sq ft |
ITZA | 546 | |
Total Ground Floor | 88.44 sq m | 952 sq ft |
First Floor Ancillary | 100.24 sq m | 1,079 sq ft |
Second Floor Ancillary | 33.54 sq m | 361 sq ft |
Total | 222.22 sq m | 2,392 sq ft |
A set of floor plans is available to download and the measured survey report will be re-addressed to a purchaser at a cost of £345 + VAT.
Planning
The property is Grade II listed (hence, no empty rates payable) and situated within a Conservation Area.
Tenure
Freehold.
Tenancy
The entire property is let to premium brand retailer Brora Limited on a full repairing and insuring lease for a term of 10 years from 19th October 2016, expiring on 18th October 2026.
The tenant originally had a break option on 19th October 2021 which has been moved to 19th October 2024, showing the tenant’s commitment to the property. The tenant is to pay a penalty of £20,000 + VAT if the break option is exercised.
In return for moving the break option the rent was reduced in November 2021 from £95,000 per annum to a current rent of £80,000 per annum (a 16% reduction). Based on our analysis this equates to a Zone A rate of £137 per sq ft.
All rent is paid and up to date, with no arrears.
Rental Value
Historically rents in Guildford town centre have reached levels in the order of £300 Zone A.
Based on our analysis, the current rent of £80,000 per annum equates to a Zone A rate of £137 per sq ft.
We understand that 127 High Street was let to Lululemon in August 2020 for a term of 10 years at a rent of £170,000 per annum with a 15 month rent free period, equating to a net Zone A of £175.00.
In addition, we understand that 115 High Street was let to Preston Jewellers in October 2020 on a 10 year lease at a rent of £168,000 per annum with a 12 month rent free period, equating to £167 Zone A.
Covenant
Brora Limited (Co. No. 04166713), has reported the following figures;
28th February 2021 | 29th February 2020 | |
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Revenue | £16,601,286 | £17,211,373 |
Pre-Tax Profits | £2,278,255 | £262,419 |
Net Assets | £4,795,771 | £3,219,950 |
The accounts state that online sales significantly exceeded the company’s expectations, despite the challenges that Covid-19 posed, and that Group profitability improved as a result of reduced marketing activity and reducing store headcount amongst other factors.
Brora is a widely recognised premium brand retailer. Established in 1993, the company is one of Britain’s most successful modern cashmere brands and has steadily grown into a fully-fledged fashion label. The company is 100% privately owned and the business focus is ‘Buy British’, the key element being that all their cashmere is made in Scotland to the highest possible standards.
The Brora brand is enhanced by the quality of the location of its shops which includes, as well as Guildford, Bath, Cambridge, Chelsea (Sloane Square), Oxford, Harrogate, Marylebone, King’s Road and Edinburgh. In addition, the company has an international store on New York’s Madison Avenue. For further information please visit www.brora.co.uk.
VAT
The property has been registered for VAT. Therefore, it is anticipated that the sale will be treated as a Transfer of a Going Concern (TOGC).
Proposal
We are instructed to seek a figure of £1,260,000 (One Million, Two Hundred and Sixty Thousand Pounds), subject to contract, reflecting a net initial yield of 6.00%, assuming standard purchaser’s costs of 5.97%.
Please note that a purchaser will be re-charged the costs of the measured survey (£345 + VAT) and searches (£1,009.56) which are provided in the data room.
Please note that a purchaser will be charged a Transaction Fee of £5,000 plus VAT.
Investment Considerations
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An opportunity to acquire an attractive investment in a highly affluent South East commuter town;
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The property is let to the premium brand retailer Brora Limited;
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The rent has recently been re-based from £95,000 per annum to £80,000 per annum.
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The October 2021 break option has recently been moved to October 2024, demonstrating the tenant’s commitment to the property;
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The property occupies a prime retailing pitch in the heart of Guildford town centre;
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The unit has been fitted out to a very high standard by the tenant;
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Freehold;
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A purchase at the asking price reflects an attractive net initial yield;
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Attractive lot size to an investor.
Data Room and clicktopurchase®
Access to the data room and for the ability to purchase online with speed and ease, please click the clicktopurchase® “C” icon or the clicktopurchase® side bar. Purchasers will be able to access the complete legal package, clear verification and submit legally-binding offers to acquire the property.
Purchasers benefit from the trust, security and transparency provided by the platform. All activities, including the online contract execution, will form part of the electronic audit trail which is anchored in the clicktopurchase® Blockchain.
clicktopurchase® provides the opportunity for any investor, whether located UK or abroad, to uniquely purchase online with ease and certainty. To learn more about clicktopurchase®, click here.
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Contact Us
Singer Vielle | +44 (0) 207 935 7200 | |
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Dale Henry | dale@singervielle.co.uk | +44 (0) 203 701 1356 |
Neil Singer | neil@singervielle.co.uk | +44 (0) 203 478 9120 |
Vendors Solicitor
Gunnercooke | +44 (0) 333 014 3401 |
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Simon Davies | simon.davies@gunnercooke.com |
Jonathan Wilkson | jonathan.wilkinson@gunnercooke.com |