W.RE secures first tenants for its landmark Arding & Hobbs building
Luxury health club Third Space and Imbiba-backed bar group Albion & East are first to move into to the redeveloped department store in Clapham.
W.RE has let over 35,000 sq ft of its refurbishment project in Clapham Junction, Arding & Hobbs. Third Space, the luxury health club and gym, will take 28,000 sq ft across three floors, while 5,500 sq ft on the ground floor will be taken by Albion&East, the Imbiba-backed London bar group.
The renovated Arding & Hobbs building will feature five studios for Third Space’s award-winning classes, including Reformer Pilates, Hot Yoga, a signature high-intensity studio with immersive light and sound and a cycle studio with recording studio level acoustics. The club will also have a track and rig area, offering functional training complete with assault bikes and ski ergs, alongside a range of strength and cardio equipment. The new club will also benefit from a wet spa with sunken massage jet hydropool, cold plunge pool, steam room and Himalayan sea salt walled sauna.
Albion & East will feature its own “Urban Distillery & Tasting Room”, distilling the first vodka for the bar group. The design works with the existing fabric of the building, exposing large metal warehouse doors, unearthing the original mosaic floor and showcasing plaster cornices and years of layered paintwork.
The Arding & Hobbs building has been part of Battersea’s heritage since 1910, as one of South London’s first purpose-built department stores and is an important local landmark, featured in films, television, music videos and books. W.RE’s refurbishment turns the former Debenhams store into a 90,000 sq ft flexible retail and leisure space across the ground and basement floors and introduces modern office space to the upper floors with a new roof top extension to crown the building. This combination of uses brings new life to the building and an economic boost to Clapham Junction while restoring the heritage of this iconic landmark.
Chris Bonner, Head of Asset Management at W.RE, said:
“Arding & Hobbs is a unique building with a very special future. Testament to this is the commitment of Third Space to deliver a world class health and wellbeing club within Arding & Hobbs, serving as an invaluable amenity to future users of the building and the local community. Albion And East’s distinctive offering will further bring new life to Clapham Junction, strengthening Arding & Hobbs position as major hub to life, work and socialising.”
Colin Waggett, CEO of Third Space, said:
“We’re excited to announce further expansion with the opening of Third Space Clapham, reaching a new area in London, with a beautiful grade II listed building. With such an iconic building, comes the need to ensure we’re doing it justice, through pushing the boundaries of what people can expect from gyms and their design aesthetics. We will offer members a luxurious environment, with the very best in training and recovery facilities.”
Sarah Weir, Managing Director at Albion & East, said:
“Clapham will be a fantastic addition to our collection, and we are so excited to be part of the latest W.RE development. We favour a light intervention approach, building on the original aesthetics of the old department store, adding in carefully sourced lighting, furniture, and artwork to bring the space back to its former grandeur.”
Cushman & Wakefield and Hedge advised W.RE on this lease.
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