Leisure property experts establish specialised advisory business
A new leisure real estate advisory business has been set up by the former head of global leisure at Savills, David Bell, and business partner Sammy Jones who has been running her own consultancy business, for the past four years.
Between them the two have more than 40 years of collective experience in their field.
Stärka, which is based in Cheshire and has a London office, will offer bespoke property advice
Specialising in the food and beverage (F&B), lifestyle, leisure and fitness sectors, Stärka works with forward-thinking developers, investors and operators to shape places and grow brands, all while placing an emphasis on curation.
David specialises in leasing, development consultancy and asset management for major UK and global landlords, as well as global expansion remits for tenant-rep clients.
His mix of experience positions him as one of the few global market-leading advisors, bringing Stärka a knowledge base spanning from comprehensive regeneration schemes to new developments in the UK and worldwide.
Sammy has more than 20 years’ industry experience and extensive UK knowledge, focusing in the leisure and F&B sectors. She previously worked both on the in-house operator side and across several agency roles. With expertise in managing the full acquisition process from start to finish, Sammy works closely with project managers and legal teams, adding value in the detailed negotiation process, as well as providing growth strategy advice for businesses looking to expand their estates.
David Bell said: “Stärka is Swedish and means ‘strength and invigorate’, and the Scandinavian ethos embodies the culture of the company and how we work with our clients. We love working with people who have passion, energy and enthusiasm, just like us, sharing our expertise in restaurants, lifestyle and leisure and fitness sectors in a global context.”
Sammy Jones
Sammy Jones said: “We believe specialist advice is needed now more than ever in this ever-changing world.
“Together, we have substantial experience as real estate agents, client-side property teams, and development consultants. Stärka has been created to do things differently, rather than repeat the norm. We are innovators, creators and curators.”
With offices in the heart of London’s West End and Betchton, in Cheshire, and with clients including DTZ IM, Grosvenor, Gusto, Côte and Hickory’s, Stärka not only covers the entire UK, but also the US, Europe, Middle East and Asia.
