Tag: Princes Street

GIVEAWAY: Free Pret Sandwiches For Pic-NICs This Bank Holiday!

This May Bank Holiday weekend, Pret A Manger is making pic‘Nic’ prep easier than ever for customers whose name starts with ‘Nic’. 

300 lucky customers from across the country will be able to enjoy a freshly made sandwich on Pret for the pret-fect al fresco picnic.

So, if your name is Nick (or begins with ‘Nic’…), you can claim a free, delicious sandwich at select Pret shops across the UK over the bank holiday weekend. No need for the last-minute panic, Pret’s got Nic’s covered to fuel the feel-good vibes for your pic‘Nic’ this long weekend – all you need is your ID.

Here’s how it works:

  • Who can claim? Anyone with a ‘Nic’-name (Nick, Nicholas, Nicole, Nicola, Nicolette, Nico), can pop into one of the participating Pret shops (but hurry as limited to 50 on the day) and show their ID to claim their free sandwich at the tills.
  • What’s on offer? One free freshly made sandwich from the Pret menu for your park lunch.
  • How many? The first 50 ‘Nic’s’ at each location have the chance to enjoy a free sandwich
  • How do I redeem? Just pop into one of the participating shops on the specified day. Select a sandwich from one of the langars then head over to a team member at the tills and show them your ID to prove your ‘nick’ name before getting a free sandwich. The activity is limited to the first 50 ‘Nick’s on the selected day at participating Pret shops and is only redeemable for a sandwich (excludes baguettes, wraps or rye rolls)
  • When & where?
  • Manchester: 1 Portland Street, M1 1RG, (near Picadilly Gardens) Saturday 24th 
  • Glasgow: 268 Byres Rd, Glasgow G12 8SH (near Glasgow Botanic Gardens) Sunday 25th
  • Edinburgh: 135 Princes St, Edinburgh EH2 4BL, (near Princes Street Gardens) Monday 26th
  • London: 244 Great Portland Street, W1W 5QX, (near Regents Park) Monday 26th
  • London: 81 Piccadilly Street, W1J 8HY, (near Hyde Park & Green Park) Monday 26th
  • Liverpool: Unit 100, Kinsey Rd, Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet, Chester CH65 9JJ, (Near Stanney Woods Country Park) Monday 26th

So, if your name’s Nic (or Nicole, or Nico…), this one’s going straight in your picnic basket!

Princes Street serious assault: Police release images

Police Scotland have released images of two males they believe may hold information which might assist in relation a serious assault in Edinburgh which occurred around 8.30pm on Saturday 7 December 2024 on Princes Street.

One of the males is described as white, aged approximately 18 years old, slim build, short light, brown hair. He was wearing a grey coloured Nike hooded jumper, a dark coloured cross body bag and dark coloured trousers.

The other male is described as white, aged approximately 20 years old, medium build, short dark hair and dark stubble. He was wearing a black Canada Goose gilet top with a dark top underneath and dark trousers.

Anyone who has any information about the incident or who recognises the males pictured is asked to contact Police Scotland via 101, quoting incident number 3251 of 07 December 2024. Alternatively, please call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 where you can give your information anonymously.

Huge queues as Popeyes® opens on Princes Street 

Customers queued for over 12 hours on Princes Street to be first to try the famous Chicken Sandwich yesterday

The much-hyped arrival of Popeyes® UK in Edinburgh yesterday had fans queuing down Princes Street from 10.30pm on Thursday night, eager to be the first to try the world-famous Chicken Sandwich. 

Opening its doors at 11am, Popeyes® UK celebrated its Edinburgh debut in true Mardi Gras style. Its signature New Orleans hospitality arrived on Princes St, with confetti cannons and live band The Brass Funkeys entertaining customers. Making launch day memorable, fans also had the chance to snap a photo in the new Popeyes® bite booth, capturing all of Edinburgh’s first bite moments.  

Over 100 chicken fans lined up from 10.30pm to get a taste of the world-famous Popeyes® Chicken Sandwich.  

First in the queue was Jonathan McCaleb who said: “I’m a huge Popeyes® fan, it’s my top-tier fried chicken restaurant!

“Since moving here from America in September, I haven’t had a Popeyes® and I’ve been craving it – especially after seeing the team out and about on campus at the University of Edinburgh yesterday.

“I’ve been waiting over 12 hours to be first in line, and I can’t wait to finally get a taste of that southern goodness again!”

Tom Crowley, Popeyes® UK Chief Executive Officer, commented: “The turnout in Edinburgh today has been incredible.

“People across Scotland have shown their love for our Louisiana chicken, and Edinburgh has now proved just as popular. We look forward to bringing a taste of New Orleans to even more customers across the city.” 

Now officially open, the Edinburgh Princes Street location serves the full Popeyes menu.

The line-up includes fan favourites like the iconic Popeyes® Chicken Sandwich, Wings and Tenders. Each piece of Popeyes® famous chicken is marinated for 12 hours in bold Louisiana seasoning, then hand-breaded and battered for that world-famous ‘shatter crunch,’ and complemented by delicious sides like its Original Biscuits and Cajun Gravy.

Plus, the all-new Saucin’ range is dripping with bold flavour featuring three New Orleans-inspired sauces: cheesy Garlic Parm, smokin’ Bold BBQ and spicy Buffalo. 

From today, Saturday 15 March, Popeyes® will also be serving up its breakfast menu from 8am to 11am each day. The menu features the Big Cajun Roll, Cajun Hash Browns, and indulgent Nutella-topped buttermilk biscuits – a classic British breakfast with a New Orleans twist.

Popeyes® is located at 131-133 Princes Street, Edinburgh and open from 8am until 10pm. The new 86-seat restaurant includes touch screen self-service kiosks and collection points for orders made online via the Popeyes® UK website or official app. 

Edinburgh Princes Street is Popeyes® seventh restaurant in Scotland, as part of its ambitious plans to open more than 45 restaurants across the UK in 2025.

To find out more about Popeyes® Edinburgh, visit the website here or follow the brand on Instagram at @PopeyesUK or TikTok at @popeyesuk 

Last chance to have your say on Princes Street plans

There’s still time to share your views on council plans to revitalise Princes Street, the Gardens and area around Waverley Station.

The survey closes at midnight TONIGHT – Friday (21 Feb). If you work, live, shop, enjoy visiting or just travel through the city centre, this survey is for you:

www.edinburgh.gov.uk/princesstreetsurvey

• better pavements and crossings

• more places to sit

• less steep path into Princes Street Gardens

• generating a mix of retail, hospitality and leisure

• safer cycling at the east and west of Princes Street

• supporting wildlife, planting more trees and flowers

Old Town, New Town & Broughton and West End community councils submitted the following joint response:

Public transport diversions today as city centre prepares for Hogmanay

LOTHIAN:

Hogmanay Street Party Diversions affecting Princes Street, Frederick Street & Market Street from 7pm today (30 Dec)

Main event closures phased in from 4pm on 31 Dec

Full list of closures: https://tinyurl.com/yvn5rnhs

Info from Lothian Buses: https://tinyurl.com/2undchpe

#edintravel

TRAMS: Split service from 6pm tonight

At 6pm tonight Princes Street will shut for Hogmanay.

Edinburgh Trams will be running a split service during this time with trams running from every 10 mins between Edinburgh Airport – West End and Picardy Place – Newhaven.

Read more here:

https://bit.ly/3ZHQaXi

Pupils’ cards bring festive cheer to Princes Street

A set of 12 ‘Season’s Greetings’ cards designed by Edinburgh school pupils will brighten up Princes Street, with winning designs displayed on JCDecaux digital screens from Thursday 28th November to Sunday 1st December.

Three of the young winning artists; Eshaal Ahmed (Drummond High School), Elsie Smith (Bruntsfield Primary School) and Lilia Walas (Braidburn School), joined the City of Edinburgh Council Leader, Cammy Day on Thursday to unveil their designs at a bus shelter on Princes Street.

In addition, winning card designs by Eshaal Ahmed (Drummond High School), Elsie Smith (Bruntsfield Primary School), Lily Stokes (Parsons Green Primary School), Suri Pirani Carrasco (Drummond High School) and Mark Downie (Pilrig Park School) have been selected to feature on the official festive greetings cards for the City of Edinburgh Council.

The Season’s Greetings competition is an annual event, with 2024 marking the eighth year that JCDecaux UK has offered lucky Edinburgh pupils the chance to have their designs shown on digital Out-of-Home screens on Princes Street.

Council leader Cammy Day said: “The standard of artwork in this year’s competition made it really difficult to narrow down the entries to just 12 to feature on digital screens on Princes Street.

“I want to thank the teaching staff at schools across the city who have encouraged their pupils to get involved in the competition, and congratulate the youngsters who have had their creative artworks recognised.”

Lord Provost Robert Aldridge added: “Every year I am blown away not only by the number of entries we receive to the Seasons Greetings’ competition but by the standard of creativity from children and young people across the city.

“It’s amazing for pupils and their families to see their artwork on display on Princes Street, and I know that the designs will delight shoppers this weekend.”

Mike MacLennan, New Business Development & Partnership Manager at JCDecaux UK, said: “We are delighted to be supporting this wonderful artwork competition once again, working with The City of Edinburgh Council to showcase the talent and creativity of young artists in Edinburgh.

“This annual display on digital bus shelter screens brings festive cheer to people out and about on Princes Street.”

The winning designs will be displayed on all JCDecaux digital screens on Princes Street from Thursday 28th November to Sunday 1st December.

Have your say on ‘ambitious vision’ for Edinburgh’s city centre

Residents, businesses and other interested groups in the Capital are being asked to comment on a strategy to revitalise Princes Street and the wider ‘Waverley Valley’ to be more vibrant and welcoming.

The new vision will guide the long-term regeneration of this part of the city centre, providing a mix of shops and services for residents and visitors, attracting investment and jobs and supporting businesses within an exceptional historic and climate resilient environment. 

A 12-week consultation on the Council’s draft Princes Street and Waverley Valley Strategy began this week. It aligns with Edinburgh’s Net Zero 2030 ambitions, City Mobility Plan, Edinburgh City Centre Transformation (ECCT) and City Plan 2030.

The Princes Street and Waverley Valley draft strategy is part of our bold plans to transform the city centre. The ECCT was approved in 2019 and includes the George Street and First New Town, Meadows to George Street projects. www.edinburgh.gov.uk/citycentretransformation

As well as Princes Street the Waverley Valley area covers East and West Princes Street Gardens, Waverley Station, Waverley Market and East Market Street. 

 The draft strategy aims to:

  • Create a more accessible city centre

The masterplan for comment recommends guiding the area from the West End of Princes Street along to Waverley Station to become more accessible, with improvements such as additional ramp access to Princes Street Gardens, a footbridge over the Waverley Valley, more public spaces to enjoy, an improved crossing and pedestrian improvements to Castle Street, the Mound Precinct, and Waverley Bridge.

  • Protected green spaces

The strategy looks to integrate climate resilience and biodiversity measures to protect the existing Waverley Valley and Gardens from climate change and to plant more trees and flowers – also promoting sustainable transport options and the retrofitting of historic buildings in line with Edinburgh’s net zero aims.

  • Revitalise Princes Street

Working with developers, the strategy suggests improvements to Princes Street with temporary pop-up premises, building wraps and artwork and encourages mixed-uses for the prominent high street. Improvements to historic buildings, including the Ross Bandstand, are also suggested to create better opportunities for residents and visitors to enjoy the area.

  • Make improvements to Waverley Station

Shape the future of Waverley Station and the area around it. Its key position between the Old and New Towns makes the station a vital connection between the Old and New Towns. Network Rail’s Waverley Masterplan recognises the need to restore and modernise the station.

Councillor James Dalgleish, Planning Convener, said: “We have published a draft ambitious vision for the Capital’s iconic Princes Street and surrounding area which sits within our internationally renowned World Heritage Site.

“I’d encourage everyone living in or interested in our beautiful Capital city to comment on it by answering the questions we’re asking around accessibility and public space in area, the future of the Gardens and the area in and around Waverley Station.

“As we put together the draft vision we listened to views about all of these important sites for Edinburgh. And as we move forward developing it, we need to make sure we balance our city’s rich heritage with the urgent need for sustainable and accessible spaces, and with new development. This will allow us all to continue to appreciate the charm of our city centre as well as the facilities it provides.

“The area is well used by Edinburgh residents, businesses and visitors from across the world and we plan to breathe new life into it, protecting and invest in it, to make sure that this will be the case for many years to come.”

GRAHAM’s Christmas Crane

GRAHAM has enhanced Edinburgh’s skyline with some festivity as the contractor progresses with the transformation of the historic Grade-A listed Jenners building on Princes Street.

Draped in colourful lights, the crane has become a striking feature of the city’s celebrations, towering over the city’s magical Christmas Market in the Princes Street Gardens.

For more information about the ongoing transformation of the Jenners Building, please visit: 

https://www.graham.co.uk/about-us/news/construction-work-begins-jenners

M&S Edinburgh colleague celebrates 50 golden Christmases

Susan Jack, a shining star at Marks & Spencer’s Princes Street store in Edinburgh is celebrating a half-century of holiday magic this year.

Sales Advisor for Jaeger and Womenswear at Marks & Spencer Princes Street, Susan is celebrating her 50th Christmas working for the high-street retailer and is particularly excited about this year’s range of sparkling dresses and skirts, perfect for any festive occasion.

Susan’s M&S career began just before Christmas in 1974 at the Princes Street store, just in time for the holiday rush in the ‘Ladies Fashions’ department.

With 50 years retail experience now under her belt, Susan has witnessed incredible innovations, from the evolution of tights to the affordability of cashmere and to the sparkle of the modern-day beauty counter, particularly at Christmas. She has always been fascinated by the changing trends in customer shopping habits.

From 1994 to 1999, Susan left the Princes Street store to join the opening team at the Gyle Shopping Centre. Remarked as one of Susan’s proudest moments, she thrived in training the new store team before returning to Princes Street as a Section Manager for Womenswear.

For Susan, the Christmas season is a magical time, she reflected: “Christmas is always special, particularly watching customers come in for their Christmas food shop. It brings so much joy to the store.” 

She fondly looks back on the annual ‘turkey trot’, a term the team has coined for when Edinburgh shoppers collected their turkey and cranberry sauce! 

The Turkey ordering service was soon introduced in 1982 to enhance convenience for customers. 

As for Susan’s favourite turkey, she reveals: “The British Oakham Turkey Breast Joint is my favourite, we get it every year as it carves like a dream!”.

Susan has cherished celebrating Christmas with her colleagues over the years. From being amongst the first to sample the Christmas range as soon as it’s released, to attending January Christmas parties (a retail tradition), she has seen it all.

Reflecting on her five decades working for the retailer, Susan Jack, says: “More than anything over the years, M&S has given me confidence; I was very shy when I started, but my time at M&S has taught me how to be outgoing, reassuring me in my skills.

“I’d like to thank all my colleagues for creating such an enjoyable working environment and M&S for all the opportunities I’ve had over the last 50 years. The friendships I have made over the past five decades are truly irreplaceable and will last a lifetime.

“Watching their children grow up and become parents themselves is something I am forever grateful for.”

Store Manager Jon Cameron added; “I am immensely proud of the incredible dedication and achievements Susan has made over the past 50 years. Her unwavering commitment, exceptional service, and the positive impact she has on both our team and customers are truly inspiring.

“We are honoured to celebrate this remarkable milestone and look forward to many more years working alongside Susan.”

Princes Street robbery: Do you know this man?

Police Scotland have released images of a male they would like to speak to in connection with a robbery which occurred on Tuesday, 14 May 2024 at around 5pm on Princes Street.

Officers believe the male in the images could assist them in their ongoing enquiries and are appealing for the male himself or anyone who may recognise him, or has information about this incident, to get in touch.

The male (pictured) is described as a white male, aged between 30-40 years old, slim build, brown facial hair and spoke with a Glasgow accent.

The male was wearing a white hooded top, black trousers and a black beanie hat.

Anyone who recognises the male pictured or has any information is asked to contact Police Scotland via 101 quoting incident number 2725 of 14 May 2024.

Alternatively, please call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 where you can give information anonymously.