Covent Garden retail estate owner Shaftsbury Capital has announced that 25 new retail, hospitality and leisure stores have opened in the area over the past six months.

Among the signings are 13 new retail brands, including running shoe brand HOKA and menswear label Balibaris, both of which are opening their first ever retail location in Europe and debut West End store respectively in Covent Garden.

“During our ownership, we have introduced over 250 new shopping and dining concepts to Covent Garden and continue to see excellent demand for our unique spaces, from brands aligned with our strategy to attract worldclass global, British and independent brands,” said Michelle McGrath, executive director at Shaftesbury Capital. “Attracted by the quality and breadth of the shopping and hospitality offer, as well as the strong local, domestic and international footfall, they are also drawn to Covent Garden’s unique location in the heart of the West End, steeped in heritage and rich with arts, culture and experience.”

The signings follow Westminster City Council and the New West End Company’s recent announcement that they have signed off on the first stage of a Memorandum of Understanding which will see a total £90 million allocated towards revamping Oxford Street.

“After years of abandoned schemes, we are now about to finally get under way with a deliverable plan to breathe new life into Oxford Street,” said Geoff Barraclough, Westminster City Council’s cabinet member for planning and economic development said at the time.

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