Pocket Storage, a U.K. based vertically integrated owner and operator of self-storage properties, and Forum Partners, a leading global real estate investment and asset management firm, today announced that the historic Biscuit Factory in Bermondsey, London will be the first site for their new technology-enabled self-storage platform that will deliver secure, convenient and fully automated self-storage facilities in ultra-urban markets in the U.K.
Max Wilson, Co-Founder of Pocket Storage, said, “Our fully automated model allows us to price rents at a significant discount to market average while ensuring a best-in-class customer experience. By providing a modern storage solution at a disruptive price point, we believe we will be able to capture significant market share in an underserviced market.”
Co-founder Louis Arron stated, “This is an eloquent solution that provides convenience for the consumer and economic benefit for owners of vacant retail space and underutilised parking garages. We don’t need a large footprint or extensive capital investment, and our operating flexibility can quickly bring units to market in various asset types.”
Seventy-eight per cent of residents in the London Bridge & West Bermondsey ward are between the ages of 20 and 39. This dense, highly mobile population is currently served by only two traditional self-storage facilities, underscoring why Pocket Storage sees Bermondsey as an ideal market.
When the site at 100 Drummond Road opens this summer, the company plans to offer 132 storage units across 10,000 square feet of net rental storage area, spread across two floors.
Architectural Mock-up of Pocket Storage Biscuit Factory Facilities
Pocket combines proprietary booking and site access software with a real estate strategy focused on repurposing underutilised urban spaces to deliver fully automated and centrally located storage facilities in underserved markets. This differentiated approach enables Pocket to solve the challenges traditionally associated with operating self-storage properties in dense, urban environments: limited space and staffing costs.
Pocket Storage intends to open 38,000 square feet across three centrally located London facilities throughout 2025. After reaching scale in the U.K., Pocket Storage intends to expand across targeted urban markets worldwide through Forum’s global real estate platform and beyond, in such key markets as New York City, Paris, Tokyo and other space-constrained city centres.
Pocket has partnered with Forum Partners, an investment manager with more than $7.7 billion deployed in real estate companies across North America, Europe and Asia Pacific, to launch and grow the new platform.
About Pocket Storage:
Pocket Storage is a self-storage service offering 24/7 access to a range of city centre locations. With simple pricing and same-day sign-up, customers can instantly register online and manage their storage needs with ease. Access to storage units is keyless, allowing for convenient sharing with staff, friends, or family. Security is a priority, with well-lit facilities and CCTV surveillance ensuring the safety of stored items. For assistance, Pocket Storage provides 24-hour human support via phone.
To learn more or find a nearby location, visit www.pocket.storage.
About Forum Partners:
Forum Partners is a global investment manager focused on investing in real assets and best-in-class real estate companies. Since its establishment in 2002, Forum has deployed approximately $7.7 billion of capital across 24 countries and over 100 investments. The company’s strength lies in identifying a catalyst for unlocking asset and enterprise value and tailoring investments accordingly. Forum’s portfolio of operating companies and affiliates directly or indirectly own or manage over $14 billion of commercial real estate in the United States and worldwide.
For more information, visit forumpartners.com
