News

Flude Property Consultants are delighted to share our latest thoughts on the South Coast retail and leisure market, with a particular focus on Chichester – a city that continues to demonstrate resilience and opportunity.

The overall market sentiment across the region is one of cautious optimism. While challenges remain for outdated or secondary stock, prime retail and leisure locations are experiencing robust activity, particularly in Brighton, Chichester, and Southsea.

Chichester in Focus

Chichester is currently benefiting from especially strong demand within the fashion sector. We are seeing established national brands seeking to upsize, alongside new entrants targeting larger-format units in the city centre. This is complemented by an increase in experiential and boutique leisure operators – from padel and virtual gaming to axe throwing – all adding to the city’s vibrancy.

Convenience retailers and independent operators also remain active, ensuring a diverse and resilient tenant mix. Vacancy rates have fallen following a number of recent lettings, underlining the city’s ongoing appeal to occupiers.

Current Activity

We are pleased to report a number of exciting transactions in progress, with 19 Southgate, 24 South Street, and 88 East Street all currently under offer to high-quality occupiers.

Meanwhile, opportunities remain for those looking to secure representation in Chichester, with units available at 13 North Street, 1 Stocklund House, 10 South Street, and 51 South Street.

Landlords in the city are responding proactively to evolving occupier requirements by offering greater flexibility through shorter lease terms, stepped rents, and fit-out contributions. Refurbishment and presentation standards are also proving critical in attracting interest and achieving successful lettings.

Outlook

Looking ahead, we expect Chichester to maintain steady demand, driven by fashion, F&B, leisure, and convenience-led operators. Prime pitches should see stable, and in some cases modestly rising, rental values. For secondary stock, incentives will likely remain necessary, but opportunities exist for landlords to repurpose underperforming space into alternative uses such as leisure, healthcare, or mixed-use schemes.

Chichester continues to offer a compelling retail and leisure proposition, combining strong tenant demand, improving vacancy rates, and a dynamic occupier mix. For landlords and occupiers alike, the city represents an attractive market in which to invest, expand, and trade.

If you are a tenant seeking new premises, or a landlord requiring assistance with disposing of a retail or leisure unit in Chichester or the wider South Coast, please contact Sebastian Martin for further advice and support.