Edinburgh’s East End Open For Business: As St James Quarter Launches Today
Following five years of construction, the most significant transformation Edinburgh has seen, St James Quarter, opens phase one of the 850,000 sq ft shopping galleria today at 9am!
The completion of the first phase brings a new, retail led, lifestyle district providing an inspiring, attractive, and vibrant destination for locals and visitors to shop, eat and play. Having had a tour yesterday we promise, you won’t be disappointed! Head to our stories later today where we’ll do a walk round of the shopping destination to give you a proper sneak peek.
Over 40 retailers will open their doors today - some of which are debuting their brand in Scotland for the first time, including, & Other Stories, Stradivarius, Bershka, and Pull&Bear.
H&M, Mango, Next – including its Victoria Secret offering, Rituals, Tommy Hilfiger, Peloton, Salerno, Nordic Outdoor and many more will also welcome their first visitors to their new stores. As part of the development plans, John Lewis opened its newly renovated store in May, boasting a range of new services and experiences.
St James Quarter will also host several new concept stores including Zara, and Superdrug has added a showcase Skinnydip stand for lifestyle and fashion accessories along with a Beauty Studio area for professional beauty treatments. Meanwhile Breitling opens its first standalone boutique in Edinburgh, and The Body Shop will open its first Activist Workshop store in Scotland. LEGO will unveil to shoppers a bespoke Edinburgh themed LEGO mosaic, while IOLLA will be introducing a new experiential showroom with an interactive try on garden.
St James Quarter is committed to championing local brands - taking over Little King Street for the next 12 months are an array of local food and drink pop-ups including Harajuku Kitchen, Artisan Roast, The Mac Man and Churros, Baby to keep shoppers energised whilst visiting the Quarter.
St James Quarter has also recently announced its exclusive partnership with Edinburgh Cocktail Week and will host a striking new al fresco Spritz Garden to kick off the opening celebrations.
With its prime location in the heart of Edinburgh, St James Quarter is set to become a welcoming, cultural and lifestyle hub for art, culture, and fashion. Through long-term partnerships with Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Edinburgh Jazz & Blues and the Edinburgh Science Festivals – to name a few – the opening is set to complement the city’s world-renowned cultural offering and support its vibrant events calendar.
The £1bn development’s hospitality and residential elements are set to complete in three further phases through to 2022. When fully complete, St James Quarter will be a destination like no other - bringing together brands from global to local, and convenience to luxury. It features a shopping galleria with 80 different retailers, an enticing mix of restaurants, a Bonnie & Wild food hall, Scotland’s first W Edinburgh hotel, a boutique Everyman Cinema, a Roomzzz Aparthotel, residential apartments, and parking.
A number of brands will continue to join the line up in the coming weeks, including the Scottish foodhall, Bonnie & Wild, which opens next month, as well as Bross Bagels, The Kooples, Aeronautica and a Harrods Beauty store.
When complete, in addition to the new shopping hub, St James Quarter will include:
· A 244-bedroom W Edinburgh. The first in Scotland, the glamorous hotel will include a W Lounge, a signature restaurant, a W Sound Suite, FIT® - the ultimate workout facility - and an AWAY® Spa.
· 152 New Eidyn apartments from Native Land. As well as stunning views from their ‘gardens in the sky’, the new homes will include a shared garden room and unparalleled residents’ services including full concierge service.
· A 75-room Roomzzz Aparthotel. Complementing the scheme's W Edinburgh, Roomzzz is providing stylish apartments with the personal touch for adventure, business and celebration. Guests can stay for one night, a week and up to a year.
· Nine event spaces. An enviable events programme has been created across a range of new and attractive public spaces. Set to host a diverse range of pop-up fashion and music shows, the St James Quarter will link to the city’s rich cultural offering and events calendar.
· A boutique Everyman Cinema. Debuting its first Edinburgh city cinema at the St James Quarter, the cinema will feature five screens and indulgent sofa seating.
· A truly diverse dining experience with an enticing mix of restaurants. From fast food, fresh food, to family and restaurant dining, the St James Quarter boasts the first Bonnie & Wild Scottish food hall, Five Guys, @pizza and Scotland’s first The Alchemist.