Britain’s toy shop, The Entertainer, has officially opened a brand-new store at The Gyle Shopping Centre.
The 2,225 sq ft store, located at The Gyle Shopping Centre, is officially open and is inviting local shoppers to enjoy a series of exciting in-store celebrations on Saturday (6th December).
The brand-new space brings the world’s most popular toys and collectables to the city centre, many for the first time, including Pokémon, LEGO, Monster High, Disney, POP MART and Wicked 2, as well as its exclusive Meccano, Early Learning Centre and Addo private label ranges.
To celebrate the official opening, The Entertainer is hosting an exciting in-store celebration on Saturday (6th December) for shoppers to enjoy. Fan-favourite Bluey will be visiting the brand-new store between 11am – 3:30 pm, offering families a fun-filled opportunity to meet and take photos with the popular puppy.
Plus, the first 100 customers through the doors of the new store on Saturday will get the chance to pick up an exclusive sealed envelope containing a surprise gift voucher valued between £5 – £50. What’s more, the first 100 shoppers to spend £15 or more in-store will take home a complimentary Bluey Aqua Drawing Pad worth £6.
Located at The Gyle Shopping Centre, The Entertainer joins a host of other leading retailers, leisure providers and restaurants, including JD, NEXT and M&S.
The news follows The Entertainer’s successful recent openings at Dalton Park and Rusden Lakes, as well as the highly anticipated release of its top 10 toy predictions for Christmas, featuring much-loved names such as LEGO, Disney, and heritage brand Meccano, alongside exciting newer brands like Gui Gui and Fugglers, with prices starting from just £8.
Andrew Murphy OBE, Group Chief Executive Officer of The Entertainer, said: “As the UK’s largest toy retailer, we’re thrilled to announce the opening of our new store at The Gyle Shopping Centre, and the exciting activities planned to celebrate with local shoppers.
“Our new The Gyle Shopping Centre store offers everything we’re proud of at The Entertainer – an exciting range of toys for every budget, the introduction of a huge range of global brands and products to Edinburgh, and our market-leading 30-minute click and collect service.
“Across our 160 shops, we’re proud to be famous for our friendly, helpful and knowledgeable colleagues, as well as our support of local charities and communities. Like all our UK stores, our new Edinburgh location also offers a ‘Quiet Hour’ to support customers with sensory difficulties during the first hour of every shopping day.
“We’re confident that local Edinburgh shoppers will enjoy discovering our brand-new toy shop – especially with the festive season just around the corner.”
For more information on The Entertainer and to shop online, visit:
Over 300 people turned up in their droves to The Centre, Livingston at the weekend, (29th November), for the opening of the pop culture retailer, MINISO, over four hours before the store opened, including the first customers, mum Helen Cornwell from Linlithgow and her daughters, Bonnie, (10) and Andie, (8) who are big fans of the brand.
The opening was marked with a celebratory ribbon cutting at 12noon, live music and a visit from MINISO’S mascot PenPen. The first 200 shoppers who spent £5 also received a goody bag worth £25.
The brand is known for its colourful and trendy design-led lifestyle products, including unique collectables, fun stationary, plush toys and figurines from brands like Hello Kitty, Harry Potter and Friends, and its beauty and homeware range.
Mum Helen who was in the queue before 8am, said: “My daughters love everything about MINISO, including the soft toys and keyrings, so I thought I’d make their day and start queuing up early with them to get a first peek and the wait was well worth it!
“They both loved browsing the store and getting a goody bag too. I have a feeling we’ll be regular visitors!”
The opening of MINISO follows on from three other launches at the shopping centre over the past three weeks, including the Danish global brand, Flying Tiger on Friday 28th November, where over 200 people queued for over an hour and The Works the day before.
The opening of Wingstop on the 10th November also attracted huge crowds, with over 200 fans queuing for over two hours to be first in line to get their hands on the famous wings.
The new arrivals follow on from additional recent openings, including the jewellers, F.Hinds at The Centre, Livingston,
The shopping centre, which is one of the largest in Scotland, is owned by LCP UK, part of M Core, one of Europe’s leading privately owned commercial property development and management companies and welcomes over 14.8m visitors a year.
It has over 150 shops and restaurants, all under one roof, including River Island, Flannels, H&M, Pandora, Hotel Chocolat, wagamama and Nando’s, and 7,000 parking spaces.
Simon Eatough, Director at LCP UK, part of M Core and Asset Manager of The Centre, Livingston, said: “This has been a really exciting time for us and our shoppers at The Centre, Livingston as we welcome four new brands to the shopping centre, including MINISO, Flying Tiger, The Works and Wingstop.
“There was such a fantastic buzz in the air at the weekend, not only with shoppers turning up to get a first glimpse of the new stores but also to enjoy some of the Black Friday sales.
“Our new openings continue to further enhance our offering for visitors to enjoy a great day out shopping and dining out at their favourite stores and restaurants in the run-up to Christmas.”
Luxury shopping destination shines this festive period
Multrees Walk ends 2025 on a high with the announcement that iconic French fashion house Longchamp will open a new boutique early next year.
This will be the first Longchamp boutique in Scotland and the first outside of London. This addition forms part of several exciting new announcements and developments due to be revealed in the New Year for Multrees Walk.
This news comes shortly after the shopping destination recently welcomed the opening of the luxury watchmaker OMEGA – its first standalone boutique – bringing the brand’s world-renowned craftsmanship and prestige to Edinburgh’s luxury shopping street.
Leigh Aitchison, Multrees Walk Centre Manager,said: “2025 has been a great year for Multrees Walk, with the new OMEGA boutique opening and now the upcoming arrival of Longchamp.
“We’re proud to see Multrees Walk continue to thrive as Scotland’s home of luxury retail and attract an increasingly growing range of brands and customers.
“The festive season is always a highlight of the year for Multrees Walk, with our stylish Christmas decorations and our brands’ beautifully curated window displays, creating a magical atmosphere for shoppers.
“As 2025 draws to a close, we’re looking forward to the year ahead, with more exciting announcements to come in 2026.”
Scotland to direct just under a quarter of its festive spend to local small biz
22% expected to spend more this festive season with food, gifts, clothing and alcohol top of the region’s spending plans
Over half will spend on nights out – more than the national average
Small businesses across Scotland are gearing up to take their share of a much-needed Christmas boost, as new data predicts the UK could spend £5.3 billion with small firms over the festive period, delivering critical end-of-year gains for this vital segment of the economy.
In wider positive economic signs, the new data from the Small Business Saturday campaign also found Brits could spend over £23 billion in total across the UK this festive season, representing a nominal 16% year-on-year spending rise.
On average, one fifth of the nation’s seasonal spending pot could go to small businesses this year – equating to £5.3 billion and representing an estimated 19% nominal uplift on the projected spend recorded in 2024.
And this trend is reflected across Scotland, with Scottish households set to show their love for small businesses, with just under a quarter (21%) of the Country’s planned festive budgets tipped to go to small businesses this year.
Across Scotland over a fifth of 22% of households expect to spend more on Christmas celebrations this year than last year.
The research also showed the most popular spending priorities are food (75%), gifts (71%), alcohol (53%) and clothing (47%), while over half (51%) will put festive spending towards nights out – slightly more than the national average of 46%.
As the Small Business Saturday campaign kicks off, organisers are issuing their annual call for the nation to support and spend with small businesses on 6 December and throughout the crucial ‘peak’ trading season, which is essential for sustaining many small businesses throughout the year.
“It is promising to see positive economic signs ahead of this year’s critical festive season. This bigger seasonal spending pot offers an incredible opportunity to boost the amazing small businesses across Scotland and the wider UK,” saysMichelle Ovens CBE, director of Small Business Saturday UK.
“Despite ongoing challenges, small businesses have experienced a period of relative stability this year.
“Public support can make all the difference in helping them finally turn a corner as the year ends – especially with Black Friday and Cyber Monday on the horizon, as small firms can really struggle to keep up with deep discounting events.
“It is vital the nation gets behind our favourite small businesses so we can unleash their power in supercharging the economy next year and delivering immeasurable wider value across society and our local communities.”
Encouragingly public support for small businesses continues to stay strong, with four in five people (84%) thinking it is important to support small businesses and 95% believing they add value to the local economy.
This comes as the number of small businesses rose to 5.6 million for the first time since 2020, after a series of falls in the UK’s small business population since the pandemic.
Jean Pryde, Founder of Brilliantly Brave in Moray, Scottish Highlands, said: “Winter always brings a flutter of nerves for a small creative business, but this year we feel more hopeful than anxious.
“We put our Christmas cards out in October – that’s early even by greeting card standards – and it’s been heartening to watch sales rise day by day through November. It feels as though people want to lean into the season again, and that support for small, values-led businesses is growing.
“For us, the festive period is not just about sales figures. Every card we send out helps fund free, local mental-health support here in Scotland, and that purpose sits behind everything we do. So if spending does rise this year, it won’t just give us a stronger winter, it will help us reach more people who need it.”
Small Business Saturday came to the UK in 2013 and is backed by principal supporter, American Express, which founded the campaign in the US in 2010. Over the time it has been running in the UK, the campaign has seen a growth in public support for small businesses with billions of pounds spent with small firms on Small Business Saturday.
Last year over 10 million Brits shopped small on Small Business Saturday, according to American Express, with a collective £634m spent on the day itself in-store and online in 2024, and average spend per person on the day rising to a level not seen since 2020 (3).
On Small Business Saturday customers across the UK go out and support all types of small businesses, both online and in bricks-and-mortar stores; from independent shops and restaurants to small service and b2b based businesses like accountants, plumbers and digital marketeers.
Many small businesses get involved in the campaign by hosting events, offering promotions, and collaborating with other local businesses.
Dan Edelman, General Manager, UK Merchant Services at American Express, said: “It’s positive to see the attraction of spending with small businesses remains strong among the public, especially with the festive season fast approaching.
“American Express is proud of its long-standing support of Small Business Saturday, a vital campaign encouraging the nation to shop small, whatever their budget.”
As well as encouraging the public to make a conscious effort to spend with small firms across the festive season and beyond, campaign organisers also suggest supporting favourite independents in other ways, such as leaving positive reviews or spreading the word amongst friends and family.
To learn more about Small Business Saturday visit –
Patrick Robbertze, Centre Director at The Centre, Livingston, which has over 150 stores and restaurants including M&S, Flannels, wagamama and Wingstop said: said: “There was a great buzz in the shopping centre today as our shoppers enjoyed the Black Friday sales, snapping up some great bargains ahead of Christmas.
“The opening of Flying Tiger on the day was an added bonus for fans of the brand who queued for over an hour prior to the launch and were treated to a special goody bag.
“We are also expecting the weekend ahead to be busy especially with the arrival of another new global brand to the shopping centre on Saturday, MINISO, which is renowned for its high-quality and affordable pop culture products and collectibles.”
Global lifestyle retailer MINISO, renowned for its high-quality and affordable pop culture products and collectibles, is delighted to announce the opening of its latest UK store in The Centre, Livingston on 29th November at 12pm.
Opening just in time for the festive season, the new MINISO store is a treasure trove of must-have gifts and goodies. From trending Vinyl Plush and collectible blind boxes to cute plush toys, beauty essentials, lifestyle accessories, and tasty treats, there’s something for everyone, perfect for stocking fillers and all your gift-giving needs this season.
Shoppers can also discover exclusive licensed collections, featuring Hello Kitty & Friends, Sylvanian Families, Harry Potter, and the all-new Disney Zootropolis 2 range, which launched nationwide in all stores on 24th November.
To celebrate the opening, the first 200 customers who spend a minimum of £5 will receive a special goody bag worth £25, while stocks last.
“Opening our new store at The Centre, Livingston, allows us to connect with the local community and share the MINISO experience with more shoppers,” saidSaad Usman, Chief Operating Officer at MINISO UK.
“We look forward to welcoming both loyal fans and first-time visitors to explore our wide range of high-quality, affordable products that brighten everyday life.”
Simon Eatough, Director at LCP UK, part of M Core and Asset Manager of The Centre, Livingston, said: “The opening of MINISO will be a fantastic addition to our existing diverse mix of retailers at the shopping centre.
“It continues to highlight our commitment to attracting even more global brands to The Centre, Livingston and enhancing the overall customer experience for our visitors.”
Patrick Robbertze, Centre Director at The Centre, Livingston,said: “We are really looking forward to welcoming MINISO to The Centre, Livingston, which is guaranteed to provide a fun and immersive adventure for our shoppers – both loyal fans and those who are new to the brand.”
Join the celebration on 29th November and discover the joyful one-stop shop to elevate the ordinary.
The countdown is on to the opening of three new stores at one of Scotland’s largest shopping centres, The Centre, Livingston next week, The Works on Thursday, 27th, Flying Tiger Copenhagen on the 28th, which is Black Friday and MINISO on Saturday, 29th November.
The three new arrivals follow on from the recent opening of Wingstop and the jewellers, F.Hinds at The Centre, Livingston, which has over 150 shops and restaurants, including M&S, Flannels, River Island, JD Sports, wagamama and Nando’s, welcoming over 14.8m visitors a year.
The Works, which sells a wide range of books, art and craft supplies, stationery, toys and games, including stocking filler essentials, will open at 9am on Thursday, 27th November. Visitors can enjoy live product demonstrations and free activity sheets and stickers for children.
The opening of Flying Tiger Copenhagen the following day at 9am, will be marked with an official, celebratory ribbon ceremony, with the first 200 customers receiving a complimentary goody bag.
The global Danish brand, which specialises in creating modern, seasonal items and contemporary, colourful everyday essentials, from homeware and stationery to toys and decorations, will also be running various promotions on the day and a ‘Spin the Wheel’ competition to win prizes. The brand’s mascot will also be making an appearance to entertain shoppers.
Opening just in time for Christmas, visitors to the store will be able to pick up everything they need for the festive season, including stocking fillers, gadgets, games and sweet treats.
Pic Greg Macvean 03/07/2025
The Centre, Livingston – Style Squad and Miniso
The pop culture retailer, MINISO, will open the day after Flying Tiger Copenhagen, on Saturday, 29th November at 12noon, with goody bags for the first 200 shoppers who spend £5, which are worth £25. There will also be a special visit from MINISO’s mascot, Penpen.
The brand is known for its fun, colourful and trendy design-led lifestyle products, including unique collectables, plush toys and figurines from brands like Hello Kitty, Harry Potter and Friends, and its beauty and homeware range.
The Centre, Livingston, which is owned by LCP UK, part of M Core, one of Europe’s leading privately owned commercial property development and management companies, has welcomed various other brands this year including Starbucks, Aunty Anne’s, XXXTra and the country’s first darts store, ArrowHeadz.
Pizza Dawgz and Cake Box is expected to open early next year and Marble Buffet in the summer, which will be their first site in a Scottish shopping centre.
The company is also planning to expand into the leisure sector with the opening of Hollywood Bowl in 2026, featuring 22 lanes, an arcade and a bar and diner.
Michael Burke, Flying Tiger Copenhagen, Managing Director UK and Ireland, said: ‘‘We’re thrilled to be opening our new store at The Centre, Livingston, just in time for the festive season. It’s the perfect opportunity to bring our unique mix of fun, creative and affordable products to even more shoppers.
“We look forward to welcoming customers in to explore the range and find everything they need to make this Christmas that bit more magical.’’
Simon Eatough, Director at LCP UK, part of M Core and Asset Manager of The Centre, Livingston, said: “We are really looking forward to welcoming three new brands to The Centre, Livingston, The Works, Flying Tiger Copenhagen and MINISO which is great timing, just ahead of Christmas.
“Alongside our existing mix of great places to shop and dine out, which has been enhanced even more this year with many exciting new arrivals, we are confident all three new openings will be a big hit with our shoppers.”
Independent Edinburgh record shop, Avalanche Records, has invested over £100k in partnership with Waverley Market owners Moorgarth, in a move to a larger premise in the centre, following a record-breaking year.
The new space, located in Waverley Market tucked above Edinburgh Waverley station and just steps from Princes Street and the Royal Mile, was previously a storage area meaning a new shop has been created from scratch.
The new shop, dedicated to vinyl, CDs, posters and t-shirts, is considerably bigger compared to Avalanche Records’ previous location.
The move to the new space this month comes as Avalanche Records reports a record-breaking year since first opening its doors to music lovers four decades ago. A number of high-profile gigs in Edinburgh in 2025, including Oasis, AC/DC and Chappell Roan, have helped attract music fans to the store.
Avalanche Records recorded its best ever month in August surpassing the previous record in December 2024 and 60% up on August 2024.
Everything in the new space has been purpose built to deliver the best shopping experience for customers. The space dedicated to stocking vinyl, CDs and posters will each grow by 50%, with t-shirt space seeing a 25% increase, meaning there will be even more stock for music lovers to choose from.
From those looking to discover Scottish artists old and new, to those wanting the latest vinyl from their favourite global superstars, Avalanche Records has it covered. The new shop front will also showcase two large window displays featuring the very best of what Avalanche Records has to offer.
41 years after first opening its doors, Avalanche Records sticks to its original principles of promoting the artists they like while also listening to what their customers want.
Avalanche Records stuck with vinyl when vinyl popularity took a big dip but is now reaping the rewards of its revival, while not dismissing CDs, as well as catering for the huge demand for music merchandise with a wide range of t-shirts, posters, prints, cards, patches and badges.
The latest move from Avalanche Records follows a number of recent investments in Waverley Market, including the launch of gift and gadget shop Menkind on the upper level, and the soon to be open bowling and games bar with food and drink, King Pins. Further tenants will be announced in the New Year, with limited units remaining.
Avalanche Records has also been an ongoing supporter of Waverley Market, most recently hosting an exhibition in the Market’s “secret staircase” in collaboration with international artist Butcher Billy, with a number of striking Taylor Swift graphics on display which attracted over ten thousand visitors.
Kevin Buckle, Avalanche Records owner, said: “This move marks a huge moment for us and Waverley Market, as we move into the biggest space the centre has available. Our continued growth shows there is still very much a love for physical music, as music lovers look to find new talent as well as listen to their favourite stars.
“We can’t wait for everyone to see the new space and, moving forward, we intend to work even more closely with our fellow tenants such as Rainbow Bubble Tea and The Cheery Churro who are particularly popular with our younger customers.
“The extra floor space means we can now stock more merchandise, for example we can now carry a full selection of the much sought after punk teddy bears lovingly made by the Fife artist Marie Allan and a popular present for those Christmas shopping.”
Neil G Mackie, Waverley Market Centre Manager, said: “I am absolutely delighted to see not only the relocation and upsizing of Avalanche Records within Waverley Market, but also the confidence and commitment of this key tenant in the centre.
“Avalanche Records is a phenomenal retail offer, founded on knowledge and experience, which is unique not only to Waverley Market but more importantly to the wider Edinburgh retail landscape”.
Avalanche Records can be found in Waverley Market and is open 7 days a week 10am – 6pm (11am – 5pm on Sundays).
Swiss watchmaker OMEGA has announced the opening of its first standalone boutique in Edinburgh, located at the prestigious Multrees Walk.
Spanning 2,000 square feet across two stylish floors, the new boutique will offer an elevated customer experience, complete with a dedicated lounge and bar area, creating a welcoming environment for customers to discover the world of OMEGA.
The new boutique will showcase OMEGA’s renowned watch collections, including the Constellation, Seamaster, Speedmaster, and De Ville families.
Visitors will also be able to explore OMEGA’s range of matching accessories and fine jewellery, making the store the perfect destination for watch enthusiasts.
Raynald Aeschlimann, President and CEO of OMEGAsaid: “OMEGA’s new location in the heart of Edinburgh aligns perfectly with the Scottish spirit, balancing forward-thinking innovation with a deep respect for heritage and traditions”.
Adam Stone, Head of Retail Asset Management UK at Nuveensaid: “We are delighted to welcome OMEGA to Multrees Walk.
“Their arrival further strengthens our reputation as Scotland’s leading luxury shopping destination.
“As we continue to grow and expand the retail offering in Edinburgh, we are excited to be welcoming world-class brands and luxury retailers on board.”
The arrival of OMEGA marks another milestone for Multrees Walk, which continues to attract leading global brands, with further retailer announcements expected later this year.
Dobbies Garden Centre in Edinburgh is extending its pet offering to cater for the growing number of animal lovers in the city. From October, the Dobbies store at Lasswade will be home to ‘The Pet Shop’ a new area dedicated entirely to Edinburgh’s pets.
Dobbies has seen significant growth of its pet products with sales up 10% in 2025. As a result, they’ve introduced a bespoke pet shop and also increased capacity at its much-loved and yearly sell-out Santa Paws experience to help meet anticipated demand for dog-themed Christmas events.
The Pet Shop will feature an expanded product offering with the introduction of capsule brands, with the likes of Joules, FatFace and Disney providing doggy clothing to keep them warm through winter, improved accessories and toys for all pets to offer a broader choice, as well as trusted puppy training, travel and health products.
Dogs will also be able to enjoy a new gourmet Pointer pick n mix counter, The Barking Bakery with pooch-friendly cupcakes and Ruffingtons artisanal dog doughnuts and eclairs, as well an impressive range of dried dog food and fresh frozen products from brands like Barking Heads, Pooch & Mutt, Boost Pet and Orijen.
Dogs are welcome to come in and see The Pet Store for themselves and then enjoy a treat in a dedicated area of the restaurant. Customers can also take part in Dobbies’ monthly social media competition, Dogs at Dobbies, by posting a picture and using the hashtag #dogsatdobbies to be in a chance of winning a gift voucher.
There is even a spot at The Pet Shop where dogs can paws for a selfie with a seasonal backdrop.
Dobbies’ General Manager at the Edinburgh store, Jenna Bavidge said: “Our love for dogs continues to grow and more than ever people are dedicating both time and money to pampering their pets.
“We’ve seen a noticeable shift in shopping habits at our Edinburgh store, and we’re thrilled to have expanded and developed our ranges to meet this rising demand.”
Customers can explore Dobbies’ pet range in-store or online at www.dobbies.com.
The Centre, Livingston, one of Scotland largest shopping centres, adds Wingstop and Flying Tiger to its list of 12 new openings, creating over 100 jobs for the local area.
Since the start of the year the shopping centre has welcomed the arrival of a 90-seater Starbucks café, Aunty Anne’s, F.Hinds, XXXTRA and last month, ArrowHeadz first darts store in the country.
Plans for further openings before Christmas include Wingstop’s 4,780 sq.ft. restaurant, the Danish lifestyle brand, Flying Tiger, MINISO, Cake Box and Pizza Dawgz. Marble Buffet is expected to open its 380-seater restaurant next summer, which will be their first site in a Scottish mall.
In addition to new openings, various retailers are also expanding and relocating including JD Sports, which will move from a 9,500 sq ft to a 14,800 sq ft prime location and also Born in Scotland.
Clintons has just relocated and opened a new-look store, which is the first of its kind in Scotland, featuring new furniture, fittings and a refreshed layout, designed to enhance the overall shopping experience.
Retailers which have extended their lease include Lush, Las Iguanas, Foot Locker, Smiggle, Krispy Kreme, Deichmann, Menkind, The Celtic Shop and Subway.
The new arrivals will add to the extensive range of over 150 stores and restaurants at the shopping centre, which spans over 1 million sq. ft. and attracts 14.8 million visitors a year from around the country.
These include M&S, Flannels, River Island, H&M, Primark, wagamama and Nando’s.
Owners of The Centre, Livingston, LCP UK, part of M Core, one of Europe’s leading, privately owned commercial property development and management companies, have also recently announced major expansion plans into the leisure sector with the opening of Hollywood Bowl in 2026, featuring 22 lanes, an arcade and a bar and diner.
Simon Eatough, Director at LCP UK, part of M Core and Asset Manager of The Centre, Livingston, said: “This is a really exciting time for us at The Centre, Livingston as we welcome 12 new retailers to our existing, wide mix of great places to shop and dine out, and create over 100 new jobs for the local area.
“The new openings allow us to strengthen our commitment to revitalising our offering at the shopping centre and provide something for everyone who visits us.
“We will continue to add even more new global brands to our portfolio to ensure we remain firmly on the Scottish map as the number one shopping centre to visit, with further announcements coming soon.”
