Forth Ports has submitted a Proposal of Application Notice (PAN) to The City of Edinburgh Council for Harbour 31, an exciting mixed-use development on a 10-acre waterfront site at Leith.
The development has the aspiration to create a vibrant new neighbourhood for Leith. The plans for the waterside location include: 700 – 800 residential apartments, a hotel, local retail, flexible workspaces and offices and leisure facilities. The site sits on a dockside location and fits well with the Council’s Local Development Plan as being housing-led, mixed use development.
The development will see the regeneration of land adjacent to the newly opened FirstStage Studios, providing a place to live and work, for both creative and green jobs, as the Port of Leith transitions to become Scotland’s premier renewables hub. The site will also benefit from the new tram extension due to open in mid-2023.
Carole Cran, Chief Financial Officer of landowners Forth Ports Group, said: “At Harbour 31 we plan to create a vibrant new quarter to live and work, as new creative and green jobs come to Leith.
“With the option to walk to work or an easy tram ride into the city centre, this new neighbourhood will be a focal point of Leith’s continued regeneration.”
An online public consultation will take place on 23 June 2022 from 3.00pm – 7.00pm via www.harbour31.com, where further details of the proposed development can be found.
Following the outcome of the public consultation, a full planning application will be submitted.
● The UK’s first attraction dedicated to love and marriage is now open
● The Famous Blacksmiths Shop has been transformed into an immersive, storytelling experience at the heart of the iconic Gretna Green destination
The iconic Blacksmiths shop at the heart of Gretna Green has re-launched following a £1.5 million transformation into an new immersive attraction.
The newly transformed The Famous Blacksmiths Gretna Green Experience is the UK’s first attraction dedicated to love and marriage and, alongside the newly refurbished hotels on site, is now welcoming visitors to the iconic destination at the ‘gateway to Scotland’.
At the heart of the scenic village, fondly nicknamed the ‘land of love’, the famous wedding destination and tourist attraction oozes historic tales of love and marriage dating back many generations.
The aptly named ‘Gateway to Scotland’ has been operating for over 250 years and has hosted thousands of weddings since its very first ceremony back in 1754.
The creation of The Famous Blacksmiths Gretna Green Experience will future-proof many more love stories. As part of the new attraction, guests are taken on a magical journey of true love, starting with virtual chats with some of the original Anvil priests and ending with a 360 degree immersive show celebrating what love means to us all.
This outstanding new UK visitor attraction explores the ‘World’s Greatest Love Story’ and everything that love and marriage means to us today.
Guests can browse original love letters from the 1700s and learn from the Anvil priests themselves about how Gretna Green’s location on the border of Scotland made it the home of runaway romance.
Visitors can even experience a ‘sneak peek’ of a wedding in action and have the chance to add their own love story to the wedding wall.
The Famous Blacksmiths Shop now also houses two wedding venues. The original Blacksmith’s marriage room where couples have been running away to get married since 1754 has remained untouched and still provides the iconic wedding experience of getting married over the historic anvil.
Next door is a brand new wedding room “The Forge”. This space has also retained all of its original features providing a backdrop for the big day steeped in history whilst also incorporating modern aspects such as the opportunity to project imagery of your own love story across the walls.
In addition to this, Gretna Green has also unveiled newly refurbished hotels on site – the 4* Smiths Hotel and the historic Gretna Hall. Both of the hotels have received large-scale investment including an impressive new penthouse suite at Smith’s Hotel and a full refurbishment of rooms at Gretna Hall.
The launch was a celebration of love with guests including Gretna Green wedding couple, Dennis and Marie, returning for the first time since their wedding at the venue in the 60s!
They were joined by local social media superstars, Cole and Abbie, who took part in a handfasting ceremony celebrating their love and commitment to each other.
Susan Houston from the Gretna Green family estate, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to have launched this immersive new attraction here at Gretna Green.
“This is our way of telling our love story to the world and we can’t wait to welcome visitors from across the country and the globe to our famous destination at the gateway to Scotland ”
We all love a good bargain, and often these can be found through second-hand items and purchased both online and in-person. While these items are often fine, some may face problems when buying them, particularly if they are purchased online.
Selling experts from second-hand retailer for-sale.co.uk have revealed six red flags you should look out for when buying used items to avoid disappointment, or worse fraud:
The seller asks for payment outside of the app or website:
Many resale sites and apps have security measures for making payments such as the option of a refund if an item doesn’t arrive, however these usually only work through the site itself.
If a seller is pressuring you to make the payment outside of the app, there is a chance that the person is scamming you, and you should avoid them.
The seller is selling a lot at once:
If there’s an item you’re interested in and the seller is also selling a lot of other items at the same time, this may be a red flag.
You should especially watch out for this if all the items they are selling are high value – few people are selling a laptop, a games console, a designer bag, and a phone all at the same time.
If an account on a selling site seems suspicious, avoid it.
If it seems too good to be true, it probably is:
If the item you are interested in is in high demand, consistently sold-out on online retailers, or is priced far below the market price, it is likely a scam.
Follow your gut: if something about the purchase doesn’t feel right, don’t go through with it.
The listing isn’t on a trusted website:
Many reputable selling sites will have in place measures to help protect buyers against scams.
Sites such as Depop and Poshmark authenticate designer items to avoid scams, and some encourage in-person sales to prevent people from selling items which don’t exist.
If you find an item for sale on a site that you don’t recognise or that doesn’t have a lot of positive reviews, it may be best avoiding it.
The seller is asking for money before giving you the item:
Although unavoidable in some cases, such as purchases made over Depop and eBay, if you are purchasing an item from a local seller, you shouldn’t pay until the item is yours.
If you’re collecting an item you’ve purchased online, don’t pay the seller until the item is in your hands and you can be sure it’s not a scam.
Selling items which don’t exist online is a common way for scammers to take your money, and there often isn’t a way of confirming the seller’s identity, meaning that you likely won’t get the money back. To avoid this, pay the seller after you receive the item, wherever this may be possible.
When buying electronic devices, ensure they work:
If an item you’re buying needs to be plugged in, don’t buy it until you’ve tried it. Again, this may be difficult in situations where the item is being sold online, but if the purchase is being made face-to-face, check that it works before buying. If you don’t, you risk being stuck with a broken item that the seller likely won’t accept a refund on.
For those looking to enjoy a day out with family and friends or pick up some last-minute Easter gifts and decorations, Fort Kinnaird has confirmed its Easter weekend opening times.
With a variety of shops and restaurants, as well as ODEON cinema, there are plenty of ways to make the most of the Easter break at Fort Kinnaird.
From Friday 15th – Monday 18th April the centre’s shopping hours will remain the same as normal:
Good Friday – 15th April: 9am – 9pm
Easter Saturday – 16th April: 9am – 6pm
Easter Sunday – 17th April: 9am – 6pm
Easter Monday – 18th April: 9am – 9pm
Liam Smith, centre director at Fort Kinnaird, said:“We know many people will be looking for ways to spend quality time with family and friends during the Easter break, and we look forward to welcoming them to the centre.
“To help them make the most of this time together, we’re open every day over the Easter weekend, so visitors can spend a day or evening out at the centre.”
Fort Kinnaird is home to more than 70 retailers and restaurants, including Primark, M&S, ProCook, Next, Smyths, Wagamama, Nando’s and Fridays. There are also over 2,600 free parking spaces.
It’s recommended to check the opening hours of individual retailers before setting off to avoid disappointment.
For more information to help plan your Easter trip to Fort Kinnaird, including what’s on head here.
● The Famous Blacksmiths Shop to be transformed into an immersive, storytelling experience at the heart of the iconic Gretna Green destination
● UK’s first attraction dedicated to love and marriage will open in late April 2022
● Visitors to embark on a journey of the ‘World’s Greatest Love Story’
Gretna Green, The Home of Romance, rebellion, and runaway marriages, has given its iconic Famous Blacksmiths Shop – the jewel in the crown of Gretna Green since 1754 – an impressive £1.5 million transformation to create a modern and immersive new experience that tells the fascinating story of this world-famous destination.
At the heart of the scenic village, and fondly nicknamed the ‘land of love’, the famous wedding destination and tourist attraction oozes history and tales of love and marriage dating back many generations. The aptly named ‘Gateway to Scotland’ has been operating for over 250 years and has hosted thousands of weddings since its very first ceremony back in 1754.
Now, at the heart of Gretna Green, the Famous Blacksmiths Shop is set to become the UK’s first immersive visitor attraction dedicated to love and marriage.
The newly transformed ‘The Famous Blacksmiths Gretna Green Experience’ will open on 28thApril allowing customers far and wide to be a part of The World’s Greatest Love Story. The renovation has seen a full internalbuilding makeover, including the brand new museum experience, as well as the launch of a new wedding room, named The Forge.
The creation of The Famous Blacksmiths Gretna Green Experience will future-proof many more love stories. As part of the new attraction, guests will be taken on a magical journey of true love.
From showcases of historic weddings, to explorations of what it means to get married today and getting the chance to add their own love story to the wedding wall. They can even experience a ‘sneak peek’ of a wedding in action!
Historically, the prestigious Scottish landmark was a popular hotspot for eloping couples due to its location on the Scottish border and the strict Marriage Act in place in England, resulting in couples travelling across into the neighbouring country to tie the knot.
Originally and traditionally known for shoeing horses, Gretna Green blacksmith Joseph Paisley quickly realised he could make more money marrying star crossed lovers escaping the marriage act in England and reinvented himself as an ‘anvil priest’.
With marriages being deemed official solely by declaration up until 1940, the self-declared ‘anvil priests’ at the Blacksmiths shop had stumbled on a new line of business.
Over the years the venue has developed and grown dramatically, drawing in customers from every corner of the globe and becoming a five-star award-winning visitor attraction.
Today, Gretna Green houses a luxury retail shopping experience, restaurant, a food hall, three hotels – Smiths, Gretna Hall in Gretna Green and Greens at Gretna – an award-winning online retail business that ships to 55 countries worldwide, and at the heart of the destination remains the historic Famous Blacksmiths Shop.
A family-run attraction established in 1885, the business has been handed down through four generations and remains family-run to this day. The investment into the attraction will enable future generations to continue to enjoy the magical experience already discovered by so many.
Isabel Rhodes, CEO of the Gretna Green family estate, said: “We are the home of runaway love – what could be more romantic?
“We wanted to fully tell the fascinating story of our destination and the recent investment is our way of paying tribute to that.”
Susan Houston, family director of the Gretna Green family estate, commented: “Since the family took on the estate in 1885, we have built a successful visitor attraction whilst maintaining the compelling appeal of forbidden love and romance.
“We offer something very unique with the abundance of history.”
Lucy Houston, family director, added: “The Famous Blacksmiths Gretna Green Experience is a huge milestone in our history and we are excited to welcome everyone so that they too can experience the World’s Greatest Love Story.”
St James Quarter has extended its line-up once again as it welcomes luxury fashion brand Coach to level three.
Taking a 3,140 sq ft space on level three, the global design house of modern luxury leather goods, apparel and lifestyle accessories will sit amongst other designer brands including The Kooples, BOSS, Reiss, Aesop, Russell & Bromley, Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein, and H Beauty and Tapestry-owned Kate Spade.
The space will feature a wide assortment of Coach merchandise for women and men including bags, small leather goods, footwear, watches, travel accessories, scarves and jewellery. Warm and inviting, the store environment reflects the sophisticated yet playful refinement of New York – the city Coach has always called home.
Nick Peel, Managing Director at St James Quarter, said:“Spring has officially sprung and to celebrate, we’re welcoming Coach to the St James Quarter family.
“This addition continues to show how we are bringing together a diverse range of retail, leisure and food & beverage brands that provide a little something for everyone to enjoy.
“The next few months are extremely exciting for us as we gear up for even more openings – watch this space!”
This letting follows St James Quarter announcing its signing of BOSS at the start of the year. The game-changing mixed-use development completes the distinctive offer of Edinburgh with over 80 new brands, an enticing mix of restaurants and bars, W Edinburgh, a boutique Everyman Cinema, a Roomzzz Aparthotel, and an enviable events programme in a range of new and attractive public spaces.
St James Quarter is giving all glam squads the weekend off as it gears up to host its first ever Love Beauty event from 10th to 13th February.
A one-off event you don’t want to miss, beauty Kings and Queens are invited down to St James Quarter to explore a range of inspiring makeup, skincare and fragrance workshops and consultations. Attendees will also have the opportunity to make the most of some exclusive Love Beauty discounts running across the whole weekend.
And it doesn’t stop there, Jamie Genevieve, expert makeup artist and founder of VIEVE, will be making an appearance as she hosts a one-off event on Saturday 12th February in partnership with HBeauty.
Jamie will reveal some of her most sacred top tips and showcase her makeup brand in an exclusive interview before answering any burning beauty questions the audience might have.
A number of St James Quarter’s top brands will be involved in the beauty inspired events over the course of the weekend including VIEVE at H beauty, Dior at John Lewis & Partners and MAC Cosmetics at Boots, as well as many more.
Kicking off from 9am each day, attendees can brush up on their skills with beauty demonstrations at & Other Stories, fill their bags with free samples from Clinique and Bobbi Brown counters in John Lewis & Partners and be the first to enjoy a brand new No7 product launch at Boots.
L’Occitane will also be debuting its very first ‘L’Occi Truck’. Showcasing beauty on the go, the four wheeled drive will be parked up in the main Galleria, near Register Square, and will be filled with everyone’s favourite beauty and skincare products.
Visitors can also take part in a variety of activities at St James Quarter’s SOOK space – an area designated to allow brands to create engaging and exciting offerings and connect with their customers on a more intimate level. From HydraFacial within Cavendish Clinic at John Lewis, hair demos with GHD to makeup tips from MAC Cosmetics at Boots, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
Gill Moore, Retail Director at St James Quarter, said: “What an event we have lined up. Love Beauty is a chance for everyone to come together and enjoy all our skincare, make-up and fragrance specialists we have within The Quarter.
“There will be a number of brands hosting exclusive events over the weekend including VIEVE in partnership with H beauty, Dior in John Lewis & Partners and MAC Cosmetics in Boots.
“Attendees can take this opportunity to really flaunt their own style, learn some new beauty tips and take advantage of all the fabulous deals and giveaways available over the weekend.
“We’re also extremely excited to be welcoming make-up icon, Jamie Genivieve, next Saturday to learn more about how she founded her successful makeup line, VIEVE.”
Activities will be taking place throughout The Quarter across the whole weekend. Keep up to date with the latest info via our Instagram page by following @StJamesQuarter
The future of Scotland’s town centres, and how the changing nature of retail and ecommerce has impacted them, is to be investigated by the Economy and Fair Work Committee.
The Parliamentary Committee is looking to identify the current challenges for high streets, and the barriers to their success, and to explore the extent to which an increasing use of ecommerce is impacting on Scotland’s town centres. It aims to propose action needed to support modern and thriving town centres.
The Committee’s inquiry has three areas of focus:
Keeping town centres alive – including how they have changed over recent years, their strengths and weaknesses, and who or what can drive positive change in Scottish town centres.
The new realities of Scottish retail – including how this sector has evolved over the last decade, the impact of these changes on town centres and what role fiscal policy levers should have in supporting this sector.
Ecommerce in Scotland – including the implications for businesses of increased online shopping and digital activity, and the role of Scottish SMEs in the ecommerce sector.
Speaking as the inquiry was launched, Claire Baker MSP, Convener of the Economy and Fair Work Committee said:“Scotland’s town centres have traditionally been the heartbeat of our communities bringing people together to live, work, shop and socialise.
“However, traditional town centres are under pressure and under threat, with too many shops closing and too many high streets dominated by ‘to let’ signs.
“Changing retail trends, including the growth in ecommerce and the expansion of retail park alternatives, combined with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, continues to create a difficult trading environment.”
The Convener continued:“We want to find out how to diversify and grow high street activity, and are particularly keen to hear from businesses and members of the public on what makes a successful and thriving town centre.
“Our inquiry is seeking to bring forward recommendations to demonstrate how Scotland’s town centres can thrive in this post pandemic world, and be vibrant, resilient and accessible places which meet the economic, social and environmental needs of our communities.”
BOSS will take 5,400 sq ft at St James Quarter, as the lifestyle district continues to ramp up its high-end fashion offering
This latest signing follows the recent arrival of women’s fashion brand, REISS
Edinburgh St James is a 1.7 million sq ft city centre development and one of the biggest regeneration projects currently underway in the UK. On completion, Edinburgh St James will provide the Scottish capital with up to 850,000 sq ft of prime retail space, five star hotel accommodation and will deliver up to 250 new private residential apartments. This will create a vibrant and exciting place to live, visit and shop in the heart of Edinburgh. Architect: BDP and Allan Murry Architects. Developer: Nuveen Real Estate. main contractor Laing O’Rourke
St James Quarter welcomes luxury fashion brand BOSS to its line-up of high-end brands. The world-famous BOSS brand will take its place at St James Quarter alongside the likes of REISS, Kooples, Aesop, Russell & Bromley, Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein, and the recently opened H Beauty.
HUGO BOSS is one of the largest German fashion companies and produces luxury clothing, accessories, footwear and fragrances. The BOSS brand is set to occupy 5,400 sq ft of space on level three.
The latest letting expands the fashion offering at St James Quarter. BOSS will join the impressive list of names including & Other Stories, Mango, Zara, Bershka, Pull & Bear, Stradivarius, Next, H&M, JD Sports, John Lewis and many more. It also follows on from the recent announcement of Duck & Waffle.
Nick Peel, Managing Director at St James Quarter, said:“BOSS is a brand we’ve had our eye on for a while and think they will be a great addition to St James Quarter in 2022. We continue to bring together a diverse range of retail, leisure and food & beverage brands with broad appeal but which are far from ubiquitous and BOSS fits superbly into the St James Quarter line up.”
Complementing an unrivalled shopping offer, St James Quarter is a premier food and drink destination in the heart of the Scottish capital. It provides a truly diverse offer – from fast, fresh food, to family and restaurant dining, including Bonnie & Wild as the anchor for the development’s new concept food hall alongside Five Guys, Wingstop, Thai Express, Pho, Maki & Ramen and The Alchemist.
For those looking to fit in some last-minute festive shopping, Fort Kinnaird has confirmed its opening times for the run up to Christmas.
The centre will be open from 9am until 6pm on Saturday, 10am until 6pm on Sunday and from 9am until 9pm Monday to Thursday. On Christmas Eve, Fort Kinnaird will be open from 9am to 5pm.
Fort Kinnaird is home to a huge range of brands, including high street favourites Clark’s, Next and OFFICE, and restaurants such as Bread Meats Bread, Nando’s and Wagamama, as well as a 7 screen ODEON cinema.
Liam Smith, centre director at Fort Kinnaird, said: “We know many people have started their Christmas shopping early this year, but there’s also many who still have plenty to do or those last few bits to buy.
“We’re open right up until Christmas Eve, and look forward to welcoming visitors doing their festive shopping or spending some quality time with friends and family – right up to the big day.
“With our late night opening hours, we’re giving people even longer to shop meaning they can choose to visit at a time that’s more convenient or perhaps a little quieter for them.”
The centre continues to have extra measures in place to help visitors feel safe. Face coverings are compulsory in all indoor areas and we’re encouraging everyone to maintain a safe distance from others.
We have enhanced cleaning regimes in place and our retailers are encouraging contactless payments where possible. Our stores and restaurants are also carefully managing visitor numbers to be confident that everyone can maintain social distancing.
Free parking is available as usual, and all visitors are encouraged to check the opening hours for individual retailers directly with them before setting off.
The centre’s opening times for the rest of the festive period are:
Christmas Day: Closed
Boxing Day: 9am – 6pm
27th- 30th December: 9am – 9pm
New Year’s Eve: 9am – 5pm
New Year’s Day: Cinema and selected restaurants open only. Please check with individual retailers for opening hours
2nd January: 9am – 6pm
For more information to help plan your festive trip to Fort Kinnaird, head here.
