Blog
Flexibility, not prophecy: An interview with Ben Copithorne
Ben Copithorne is the Managing Director of Camargue and works with real estate clients in brand building and corporate communications, as well as helping clients navigate the planning system. What is your background and experience in the property industry? I’ve spent nearly 30 years working with clients across real estate to help them to build…
Read MoreSix things for 2026: What commercial landlords should be thinking about
For commercial landlords, 2026 presents a set of pressures that require careful attention. Tenants are more cost-conscious, investors are applying closer scrutiny to asset quality and performance, and compliance expectations around buildings continue to evolve. At the same time, landlords need flexibility: the ability to reposition assets, respond to market changes, and maintain control over…
Read MoreWhat property professionals need to know about getting contract variations right
Contract variations are a fact of life in property transactions. A tenant wants to alter their permitted use. Development timelines shift and payment schedules need adjusting. A conditional contract requires amendment before completion. These changes happen regularly, and when relationships are good, the temptation is to agree them quickly and informally. A recent High Court decision demonstrates why that approach…
Read MoreWhy the 2025 UK retail property recovery is contractual, not speculative
UK retail property delivered the strongest total returns of any traditional commercial property sector during 2025. Research published by Knight Frank indicates total returns of 9.2 per cent to the third quarter, ahead of industrial property at 9.1 per cent and significantly outperforming offices. Shopping centres and food stores were the strongest performing retail sub-sectors,…
Read MoreQuiz – How much do you know about property?
We have a Christmas treat for you in the form of a property quiz! We are offering a prize of a free bottle of champagne to the first set of correct answers sent to karen.mason@newmanor.com so get you answers in as soon as you can. Newmanor Can you name the UK’s largest online real estate…
Read MoreNavigating Markets and Real Estate Risk: An interview with Graeme Cullens
In this interview, we talk to Graeme Cullens, founder of Pegasus Capital and a seasoned City financier with four decades’ experience across acquisition finance, loan syndications, structured credit and capital markets advisory. Graeme discusses how his background led him into the property sector, the work Pegasus does for its clients, the current challenges facing real…
Read MoreThe 12 “Okays” of Christmas 2025
A seasonal checklist for landlords and tenants navigating the busiest retail period of the year Christmas is the most demanding time of year for retail property. Stores trade harder, shopping centres operate at full stretch, and legal obligations are tested more sharply than at any other point in the calendar. For tenants, December sales can make the…
Read MoreWhat the Budget statement means for UK commercial property
The Chancellor’s 26th November Budget arrived at a time when the commercial property market was already dealing with difficult conditions. Borrowing remains expensive, construction activity has slowed, and occupier confidence varies from sector to sector. Against that backdrop, the Budget did not contain dramatic measures or unexpected giveaways. Instead, it set out a series of changes that shift…
Read MoreRetail restructuring: A landlord’s guide to CVAs and store closures
Q3 2025 has been a sobering quarter for shopping centre landlords. According to Savills’ latest Shopping Centre and High Street report, the sector witnessed a wave of retail casualties. Revolution Bars closed 25 venues, reducing its estate from 90 to 65 sites. Prezzo continued its downsizing strategy with further closures following an earlier decision to…
Read MoreBusiness Rates Reform 2026: Legal strategies for retail landlords
The Chancellor’s business rates reform, set to take effect from April 2026, is being framed as a rebalancing act. It lifts the burden on small high street businesses while asking larger operators to pay more. According to Savills’ latest Shopping Centre and High Street report (Q3 2025), the reform introduces a higher surcharge of up…
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