The team at Mason Thomas Law has helped vintage clothing retailer Glass Onion secure its fifth high street lease, completing a complex lease surrender and new lease transaction in just two weeks to protect the brand’s growing presence in Nottingham.
Dan Green, Glass Onion Director of Finance and Operations said: “The new store is a better space and gives us room to grow.”
The deal followed an intense race against the clock after Glass Onion negotiated an early exit on its original Bridlesmith Gate unit.
Cathy Mason, Director and solicitor of Mason Thomas Law undertook negotiations on behalf of Glass Onion. She said: “It was just before Christmas, so the race was really on to ensure everything got over the line before people started slowing down for the festive period.”
With new premises found and Glass Onion needing to relocate at speed, Mason Thomas Law simultaneously handled the surrender of the existing lease and the agreement of new heads of terms within a two-week window. Just eight months earlier, Mason Thomas Law had negotiated a lease on the original unit.
Dan added: “The surrender and new lease were agreed simultaneously. It was extremely stressful, but I had complete confidence in Cathy. She has never let us down,”
The new Nottingham store opened on the 14 January, with Glass Onion temporarily operating two sites on Bridlesmith Gate to ensure continuity of trade. The new two-storey 2,000 sq. ft space sits alongside established high street names including Hugo Boss, Fopp, 18montrose, Kuoni, Bravissimo and White Stuff.
Since 2019 Mason Thomas Law has advised Glass Onion on multiple commercial leases, including pop-up shops in Meadowhall Shopping Centre and Leeds, as well as permanent high street locations in Sheffield.
The Nottingham expansion marked the company’s first move outside Yorkshire. Dan added: “We are now looking for a further high street presence alongside our established current stores.”
Founded in 2005 by John Hickling, who began selling vintage clothing from his grandmother’s coal shed in Barnsley, Glass Onion has grown into a major player in the vintage fashion sector. The business now processes around 20,000kg of second-hand clothing every week at its South Yorkshire headquarters, supporting continued national expansion through carefully structured commercial property deals.
For award-winning commercial property advice, contact Mason Thomas Law on 0114 294 5360.