Graves Son & Pilcher achieve record rents for clients in Brighton Lanes
Established in 1897, Graves Son & Pilcher have established themselves as the ‘go-to’ agent for the Brighton Lanes. Once the heart of the old fishing town of Brighthelmstone, The Lanes, Brighton’s historic quarter, is an intricate maze of alleyways and squares. Home to jewellery and antique dealers, art galleries and some of the city’s best restaurants, it’s especially popular with tourists, offering the perfect meander-and-shop experience.
But on the other side of Brighton’s main thoroughfare lies the real hotspot: North Laine. The energy here is different – more vibrant and more bohemian. One of the most sought-after trading spots in the city, the area (made up of five separate farming plots in years gone by) has become prime real estate and benefits from high footfall all year round.
“Record rents have been set within North Laine over the last couple of years”, says James Haywood, Partner and Senior Commercial Negotiator at Graves Son & Pilcher. “We’ve achieved headline rents of £45,000 and £71,000 per annum on Bond Street, and £30,000 per annum on Kensington Gardens, well in excess of the asking rent. Freehold investments are scarce but attract a high level of interest when available. We recently sold 26 Sydney Street after a very successful period of marketing.”
With certain streets closed to traffic at the weekend to allow for market stalls, North Laine is permanently buzzing. An array of independent retailers provides the quirkiness, offering everything from vegetarian shoes to hip stationery and vintage fashion. They’re nestled amongst numerous food and beverage outlets: an award-winning gelateria, Cornish pasty shop and an organic, ethically-led supermarket, to name but a few. “Home originally to Banksy’s ‘Kissing Coppers’, local traders of all types thrive in the North Laine, where both visitors and Brightonians choose to browse, buy and generally hang out”, says Haywood. “A commercial agent couldn’t ask for more, with units being snapped up as soon as they fall vacant”.
You can see all of the commercial property listed by Graves Son & Pilcher on NovaLoca here.
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