Independant café operator, Yummylicious is defying the downturn by opening its first store in Leicester's St Martin's Square.

National commercial property consultancy, Lambert Smith Hampton (LSH) negotiated the new five-year lease to the start-up business on behalf of the shopping centre's owner, Pasfin.

Yummylicious will occupy the 301 sq ft unit, formerly let to Heart of the Village, at an annual rental of £10,000.

The staff at Yummylicious said: "With consumers cutting back on their every-day spending, one might think that a recession would be the worst time to start-up a business. However, we believe that by offering quality produce at affordable prices, we will be well-placed to emerge from the downturn an established business."

Martin Herbert, Head of Retail Agency at LSH's Leicester office, said: "Café culture is definitely among us, and there are certainly a lot of good deals to be had at the moment from an operator's perspective. 

"However, the strength of the retailers emerging and expanding within St Martins Square amidst such a challenging economic backdrop is more than just coincidence. The centre's eclectic range of independent and regional retailers, together with its excellent location and high footfall, provides occupiers with a unique platform from which to grow and do business and is a significant point of attraction." 

St Martins Square, which is located within the Lanes area of the City, comprises 32 individual units. Last year, the centre recorded an annual footfall of 1.35 million.

For more information about Lambert Smith Hampton, please visit their website here: www.lsh.co.uk