Author: John Moore

For the sixth year in a row we are sending a team to attend this major property conference MIPIM.
This year our attendees being Steve Ryan, John Moore, Lynsey Newman and Chris Alexander.  We have a busy itinerary, to include attending the Savills Shedmasters party on Wednesday 7 March and the BDO Stoy Hayward drinks reception.  On the final day, we are also jointly hosting a brunch with Brasier Freeth at a beach front Cafe, hosting our various clients and contacts attending the conference.

Please contact one of our team if you are personally attending the conference or know someone who is and would like to meet up for a coffee/beer, etc.

With slightly more positive economic news over the past month, we very much hope to spot the first green shoots of recovery in the property sector!

Author: John Moore

Last year the British Council of Shopping Centres Conference was in November. In Manchester. It wasn’t a good combination for southern retail experts (however intrepid) and more than one pair of shoes still bear the scars of our trip.

This year the Conference was still in Manchester but had wisely been moved forward a couple of months to mid September which suited everyone better: no need to get drenched going to the Conference Centre; no need to freeze getting to the pubs afterwards. Our attendees were John Moore, Terence Ritchie, David Linklater and Jacqui Button and between us all we managed to speak to (and have drinks with!) a large number of retailers, developers and agents.

The mood of the Conference was muted. One major retailer we spoke to is concerned about the lack of new shopping centres. As a new development can take over a decade to complete they are worried that it will be difficult for successful businesses to grow to their full potential in the short to medium term. Other retailers commented on the difficult trading times and are looking to dispose of, rather than acquire, stores. Still others are looking to expand but, as smaller operators, find the terms offered by Landlords are impossible to meet.

In these tricky times it was inevitable that there would be few of the lavish parties which graced the Conferences of old but pubs and restaurants in the city were busy, in particular the bar of the Midland Hotel was standing room only throughout the Conference and the Starbucks next to the Conference Centre was full to the brim with coffee drinkers typing away on their iPad’s and Blackberries.

Next year the Conference will be in Liverpool. We’re already looking forward to it and hoping that by the time it comes round the retail outlook will be much brighter.

John Moore is a Commercial Property Partner at SA Law, he advises on all aspects of commercial and residential property, with particular expertise in the fields of asset management, acquisition and finance.

Contact Us
For further information or to discuss a particular matter or situation in more detail, contact John Moore at our St Albans office by email at john.moore@salaw.com or on 01727 798074.