Northern furniture chain to make southern debut

Northern furniture retailer CSL is to make its southern debut at a former Borders shop near Brent Cross in north London.

It is looking for other stores in the south in Thurrock and Enfield and is in talks to secure a store in Croydon. The 18-shop chain has signed up for a 13,026 sq ft store at Brent South Shopping Park, paying £38.50 to £40 per sq ft, with a rent-free period. It has hired Savills to look for more sites to take advantage of the more affluent southern consumer.