Bluefin reaches new heights with Pinnacle move
INSURANCE broker Bluefin is the latest business to relocate to Pinnacle Leeds, the city centre’s tallest office and retail building.
Bluefin has taken a five-year lease on a newly-created, fully-refurbished 3,500 sq ft office suite on the 10th floor of the 20-storey tower.
The insurance business, which has seven other offices in Yorkshire and Humber, including one at Thorpe Park, Leeds, previously based its city centre branch at City Exchange, Albion Street.
The creation of Bluefin’s new suite is part of an on-going £6m upgrade of Pinnacle, one of the city’s best-known office and retail properties, acquired by Moorfield Group (Moorfield) on behalf of Moorfield Real Estate Fund II in 2011, which has included extensive modernization and refurbishment including new lifts and replacing the roof-based chillers to improve the air conditioning.
The letting to Bluefin comes hot on the heels of Pinnacle attracting Roxy Lanes, the latest leisure venture from Leeds-based Jones Bar Group, which opened in May in a 5,300 sq ft unit in the Podium after a £280,000 fit out.
Bluefin Leeds city centre branch director Neil Hartley says: “Pinnacle is a great building with a lot going for it and we’re very pleased to be moving there. The new location, featuring the latest technology and ergonomic design provides a much better operating environment.
“The layout has been created with efficient processes and staff communication in mind and the open-plan layout will foster greater team spirit, creating a buzz that is good for the business and an enjoyable place for staff to work.”
Bluefin is a national insurance broker with more than 40 offices throughout the UK and offers business and personal cover ranging from construction and management insurance to personal insurance for fine art and antiques.
Speaking for the partnership between Holbeck Land and Moorfield Group responsible for Pinnacle, Holbeck Land, director, Robert Firth, says: “We’re very pleased to have attracted Bluefin which adds to the diversity of businesses choosing Pinnacle as their base.
“There are several exciting developments in the pipeline for this well-known property and we still have flexible, refurbished space to meet the needs of a wide range of enterprises wanting to be part of a growing business and retail community in Leeds city centre.”
Among other Pinnacle office occupiers are Optimisa Research, geological research company, RDR; re-structuring and recovery business, FRP Advisory; actuaries, Barnett Waddingham; highway consultants, Steer Davis Gleave, and HM Courts & Tribunal Service.
Retail and leisure tenants in Pinnacle Podium include Joy, Superdrug, Moss Bros, Next, Pret a Manger, Wish, Greggs, Roxy Lanes and Tesco Express.
Letting agents for Pinnacle are Eamon Fox, a director at DTZ, Leeds, and Roddy Morrison, a director at Colliers International, Leeds and retail and leisure agents for the Podium are Pudney Shuttleworth, Savills and Barker Proudlove, all of Leeds.
