Partner Article

Hay & Kilner helps Big Lukes

ONE of the North East’s most popular restaurants has strengthened its commitment to the region by signing a 10-year extension of its lease on one of its two prime commercial properties.

In 1990 Big Lukes became the first ‘all you can eat’ buffet on Tyneside and has been dishing out great quality and great value food ever since – initially from its home on Newcastle’s Bath Lane and then at its two existing sites in the Metrocentre in Gateshead.

Having managed to hold its own in one of Europe’s largest malls alongside super-brands like Wagamama and Nando’s, the independent North East chain has now agreed to spend at least another 10 years in the shopping centre.

The company worked with Newcastle law firm Hay & Kilner to negotiate the deal to extend its presence in The Qube, in the Yellow Mall. Company owner Mark Harford said the move would enable Big Lukes to explore potential expansion opportunities at other locations as well as cementing its long term future in the Metrocentre. He said:

“By having a secure future in the Metrocentre for another 10 years, we can continue to build on our success and look forward to offering even more great quality food coupled with great value over the next decade.

“With the lease secured for us by Hay & Kilner we can reinvest confidently and maintain our growth and continue to hold our position within the Metrocentre while also exploring new avenues in some prime locations around the country.”

Richard Freeman-Wallace, partner at Hay & Kilner and one of the North East’s most prominent commercial property lawyers, worked closely with Big Lukes to finalise the new lease agreement. He said: “In these tough times, it is certainly refreshing to see an independent, customer- facing business prospering, especially given the level of competition Big Lukes faces from several multinational chains located nearby.

“The lease agreement is a great vote of confidence for both the Big Lukes brand itself and for the Metrocentre as one of Europe’s most thriving shopping centres.”

Big Lukes moved to the Metrocentre in 1998 and opened its second site there in 2003. Since its inception it has developed into a home-grown success story thanks to its combination of quality food, value for money and its notoriously fun atmosphere.

Hay & Kilner boasts one of the most experienced and prolific commercial property teams in the region, with Paul Taylor and Nicola Tiffen serving as partners in the division alongside Richard Freeman-Wallace. Among a string of high-profile recent deals in the leisure sector, the firm enabled national comedy club operator The Stand to transform a derelict basement into a top Tyneside entertainment venue.

Mr Freeman-Wallace has over 30 years of commercial property experience and regularly acts for developers of commercial and residential property, negotiates options, conditional contracts, overage arrangements, joint ventures and forward sale agreements. He also acts for a wide range of investors in real estate, commercial property, lease agreements, surrenders and similar arrangements.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Gail Peters .