St James Quarter – Page 11 – The NEN

Miele to open Experience Centre at St James Quarter

Premium German appliance manufacturer Miele is to open an Experience Centre within the exciting new district of St James Quarter tomorrow ( 24 June).

This will be the third Miele Experience Centre in the UK after London and Oxfordshire, and its 100th worldwide.

The purpose of the Experience Centre is to bring Miele products to life and to provide customers with the opportunity to fully interact with live appliances and experience new technology.

Whether a customer is looking for a replacement washing machine or researching a full suite of appliances for their new dream kitchen, knowledgeable sales consultants and home economists can help guide them on the products that are right for them.

John Pickering, managing director for Miele GB says: “We are thrilled to be opening a Miele Experience Centre within the new St James Quarter in Edinburgh.

“Our mission is to create quality products that improve our customers’ lives, that are designed, built and tested to last – many for up to 20 years. We are looking forward to helping customers from all over Scotland make informed decisions about buying new sustainable appliances and ensuring they get the absolute most out of them.”

The new Edinburgh Miele Experience Centre will be a ‘destination of discovery’, where a range of sustainable appliances will be on display including laundry, cooking, dishwashers and floorcare.

Carefully curated interactive ‘Discovery Classes’ will also be introduced from September to help customers to see and feel why Miele products are different.

The classes will cover everything from key product features and benefits, quality of design and manufacture through to cooking and recipe demonstrations.

The new Experience Centre will be managed by Ewan Laing who will be supported by a team of sales consultants and home economists.

The new store creates eight new jobs and is centrally located in St James Quarter, which is set to be a vibrant new shopping and food destination attracting 20 million visitors per year.

The opening tomorrow will have a carnival theme with a spectacular floral installation created by Edinburgh-based Wild Flowers.

The award-winning and renowned private chef, Mark Heirs will be in store from the 24 June – 1 July, giving cookery demonstrations and serving up ‘street food’ style bites and treats.

And there will be an exclusive in store ‘Spin the Drum’ competition which will run from 24-27 June, to give visitors the chance to win one of 100 prizes in celebration of the opening of Miele’s 100th Experience Centre worldwide.

Prizes include a washing machine, dishwasher, vacuum cleaner and £25 or £50 vouchers.

The new Miele Experience Centre can be found at 243 St James Crescent, EH1 3AD. Doors open at 9am tomorrow (24 June 2021).

For more information about Miele visit miele.co.uk

St James Quarter unveils flawless views of the Scottish capital

A new fashion district is arriving in Edinburgh … bringing with it never-before-seen views across the city.

St James Quarter unveiled the stunning, panoramic views of the east end of Princes Street, St Andrews Square, Edinburgh’s oldtown and Charlotte Square merging with the southside from 55 metres high above the Capital.

To showcase the new cityscapes, St James Quarter enlisted the help of top Scottish models and an award-winning photographer, Jon Enoch, who captured the dazzling views and the incredible garments from some of the enviable brands opening in The Quarter this month.

Guests can expect a shopping experience like they’ve never experienced before in Scotland’s brand-new fashion district – with several brands debuting in Scotland for the first time including; & Other Stories, Stradivarius, Pull & Bear and Bershka.

For more information, please visit: https://stjamesquarter.com/

St James Quarter Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/stjamesquarter/

St James Quarter Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/StJamesQuarter

Outfit Details:

Look 1 – Top, £375, PINKO available at Multrees Walk. Ring, £80, Pandora.

Look 2 – Suit, £174, Next. Shirt, £45, Calvin Klein.

Look 3 – Dress, £295, John Lewis & Partners

Edinburgh ignites the official countdown to the St James Quarter opening

Edinburgh’s skyline was filled with an array of dazzling light last night as an incredible illumination marked one week to go until St James Quarter officially opens its doors.

You can view the highlights of the lightshow here.

The countdown is on for St James Quarter’s’ much-anticipated phase one opening, and the new fashion district was officially welcomed to the city by some of the capital’s most famous landmarks. From the Balmoral and Edinburgh Castle to Forth Ports and the EICC, all roads led to St James Quarter as the whole of the night sky was illuminated- a symbol of this new city centre integration.

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 upcoming opening is set to complement the city’s world-renowned cultural offering and support its vibrant events calendar.

Inspired by the spirit of Arthur’s Seat and the meeting of tectonic plates, the light show represents the awakening of St James Quarter, after five years of development. Together with festival, tourism and cultural venues across the city, the display is a celebration of connectivity, bringing together landmarks throughout Edinburgh city centre, all leading to St James Square.

Over 500 light fixtures were placed around the ribbon building with accompanying projections and a soundtrack featuring local sound designer, Keith Fortune.

Mick Hay from The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo took centre stage, 55m meters from the ground, conducting the soundtrack with the unmistakable sounds of the drums, as lasers of light travelled across the city in all directions.

Rochelle Weir, Brand and Marketing Director at St James Quarter, said: “As we near the opening of phase one, the anticipation around the city is palpable.

“We wanted to bring this feeling to life, connecting with other landmarks, businesses, and partners across the city to mark our opening and cement our place on the iconic Edinburgh skyline.

“Our phase one opening is a significant moment in Edinburgh’s history, and we’re incredibly excited for the people of Edinburgh and beyond to see what lies behind the quarter. Last night’s display was just the beginning.”

St James Quarter adds flurry of fashion, jewellery and cosmetics brands to line-up

The Kooples, Aeronautica Militare and Nordic Outdoor are the latest international fashion brands to sign to St James Quarter

Scottish watch designer Kartel will open its second city centre shop

St James Quarter, the 1.7 million sq ft city centre development in Edinburgh, has added The Kooples, Aeronautica Militare and Nordic Outdoor to its fashion line-up as it prepares to welcome visitors to the opening of its first phase. In addition, Kartel will extend St James Quarter’s jewellery offer.

The Kooples, Aeronautica Militare and Nordic Outdoor, which have taken 1400 sq ft, 1350 sq. ft and 900 sq ft respectively, will be situated on level 3 of St James Quarter, alongside Kate Spade, Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger, Kurt Geiger, Carvella and Russell & Bromley. Scottish designer Kartel has taken 760 sq. ft on level 3.

Founded in 2008, famous French premium brand, The Kooples, will be offering their rock-chic and contemporary apparel, while Aeronautica Militare will bring its comprehensive Italian wardrobe for men, women and children to cater for formal and more casual styles under the emblems and logos of the Italian Air Force and Frecce Tricolori.

Scandinavian and British outlet, Nordic Outdoor, will be hosting some of the best in modern Scandinavian outdoor clothing & equipment labels with a focus on style, function and sustainability.

Local Scottish watch designer Kartel will be providing St James Quarter’s customers with durable, high-performing timepieces combining handcrafted materials with contemporary high-precision timekeeping.

Chris Pyne, head of leasing for St James Quarter, commented: “These latest retailer signings are another major boost to the mix of international shops alongside popular local brands that we have brought together.

“We look forward to welcoming them all as we prepare to open the first phase this month.”

Caspar Odqvist, Owner of Nordic Outdoor said: “Being an Edinburgh based business, we are delighted to be a part of the next chapter in the city’s journey to become a world class retail destination.

“Our new store has been designed with the modern ‘outdoors’ consumer in mind who value style, functionality and sustainability equally. As an independent we can’t wait to bring our own blend of Scandinavian Outdoors to the most exciting urban development in Edinburgh and encourage everyone to live a little more outdoors every day.”

Bobby Morrison, owner of Kartel, said: “As a Scottish brand Kartel is proud to be part of the St James Quarter opening in Edinburgh. Experiential retail is at the heart of our offering, bringing a new level of customer interaction within our store.

“The quality of retailers in the new development will make the St James Quarter a landmark destination and we look forward to welcoming our existing and new customers alike.”

A game-changing mixed-use development being delivered by Nuveen Real Estate, St James Quarter will complete the distinctive offer of Edinburgh with over 80 new brands, an enticing mix of restaurants and bars, a W Edinburgh hotel, a boutique Everyman Cinema, a Roomzzz Aparthotel, 152 New Eidyn residential apartments, and an unrivalled guest experience providing customers with an enviable events programme in a range of new and attractive public spaces.

New St James Quarter video gives viewers a look inside some stores opening ‘Behind the Quarter’

St James Quarter has released episode two of its ‘Behind the Quarter’ series, giving viewers a behind-the-scenes look at the highly anticipated shopping district. This episode showcases never-before-seen footage of a selection of the brands due to open as part of phase one.

Gill Moore, Retail, F&B and Hospitality Director at St James Quarter sits down with the General Manager of Bonnie & Wild, Kate Russell, Founder of Bross Bagels, Larah Bross and Head of Branch at John Lewis Edinburgh, Barry Blamire to find out more about what guests can expect from the new residents of The Quarter and why they are excited to be part of one of the UK’s biggest city centre transformations.

The phase one opening line-up is one of the most significant any city in Scotland has ever seen with several brands making their Scottish debuts, including; Scottish food market Bonnie & Wild, & Other Stories, PULL&BEAR, Bershka and Stradivarius.

The full video can be streamed here.

IOLLA announces new showroom opening in St James Quarter

Popular eyewear brand IOLLA are bringing local centre stage in the new St James Quarter, launching a new experiential showroom and standing shoulder to shoulder with some of the biggest names in retail.

IOLLA launched in 2015, introducing a better way to buy eyewear with their offering of complete prescription glasses and sunglasses for £75. Their mission is to help people look and feel great, empowering glasses wearers to build an eyewear wardrobe thanks to their diverse range of unique frame designs and affordable price point.

The Scotland-born local business is the latest retailer to confirm its opening in Edinburgh’s new £1.7bn city centre development St James Quarter set to open at the end of June.

IOLLA will be opening its fourth location across Edinburgh and Glasgow which will feature a new style of plug-and-play shelving stations, digital screens and modular podiums, brought to life with the help of local Edinburgh design studio Splintr.

Their new showroom design will feature a 360º interactive window display and movable podiums, designed to bring the experience to the customer, replacing traditional ‘checkout’ desks.

By putting technology, adaptability, and the customer at the centre of the new design, IOLLA hope to create a customer journey within their St James Quarter showroom that is unique, fun and memorable.

Stefan Hunter, IOLLA Founder, said: “Our new St James Quarter showroom will be the most enriched customer experience we’ve ever created. Visitors can discover and journey through our brand by using our new creative touchpoints like material and manufacturing displays and an interactive try on garden.

“The St James Quarter showroom is also our biggest yet, and will give us the opportunity to truly showcase our passion for great customer service, great products and a fair price.”

Martin Perry, Director of Development for St James Quarter added: “With the first phase opening of St James Quarter just weeks away, the addition of IOLLA will help further bolster the already formidable array of local and international brands St James Quarter has to offer as we look to build a diverse offering, including some national and city ‘firsts’, that will help create a one of a kind destination.”

Since opening its doors in 2015, IOLLA have been one to watch, paving the way for local retailers and shaking up the traditional optical industry with a direct to consumer approach and designing and manufacturing in their Glasgow headquarters. Despite a challenging year for retail, the brand continued to focus on its growth by; investing in its digital strategy, expanding its design and technology teams and this year will push to increase its overall workforce by 100%.

The opening of the new showroom is a landmark moment for IOLLA, allowing the brand to branch into new territory when it comes to retail expansion and in high footfall locations.

This is the first step in an ambitious growth plan over the next 5 years for the innovative eyewear retailer, and it’s set to bring more eyes than ever to the IOLLA brand. Visit IOLLA in the St James Quarter from June 24th.

Apply now to be part of the IOLLA team at St James Quarter at jobs.iolla.com.

Krispy Kreme Hotlight Store to open in St James Quarter

A brand new Krispy Kreme Hotlight Store will open its’ doors at new Edinburgh city centre development St James Quarter, when it opens for the first time on 24^th June 2021.

The Hotlight Store is only the third concept store to open in Scotland alongside the Edinburgh Hermiston Gait and Braehead stores and only the second to open in Edinburgh since the first opening back in 2013.

Krispy Kreme’s renowned Hotlight gives you the opportunity to enjoy the magic of a freshly made Original Glazed doughnut Hot fresh off the line – whenever you see the ‘Hot Now’ sign lit up at a Hotlight concept store. When it’s on, it’s on!

What’s more – the Edinburgh St James Quarter store will offer six Hotlight hours a day – double the usual Hotlight hours. The store will of course also be adhering to all social distancing and lockdown restrictions.

The Krispy Kreme store will provide 25 new jobs for residents of Edinburgh, who will join 9 internal transfers.

In addition on the opening day, Krispy Kreme will have a limited number of goody bags available with exclusive Krispy Kreme merchandise as well as some exciting giveaways.

Krispy Kreme’s CEO Richard Cheshire said: “We are really excited to be opening our first Krispy Kreme store in Edinburgh City centre partnering with St James Quarter.

“We can’t wait to create more smiles and bring the magic of our iconic Hot Original Glazed doughnuts, fresh off the line, to our fans in Edinburgh.”

St James Quarter is almost here, but first … let me take a selfie!

With just three weeks to go until the much-anticipated St James Quarter phase one opening, the new fashion district celebrates launching its official social channels – by framing the perfect selfie spots to capture the city’s brand-new skyline!

Four giant picture frames can be found at some of Edinburgh’s most Instagrammable locations including Calton Hill, St Andrews Square, The Mound and Neighbourgood Market in Stockbridge, for followers to capture their own selfies and win £150 vouchers, #nofilter needed.

To enter, step into the frame, share your pic and tag and follow St JamesQuarter on Instagram and Facebook. The competition will run until Sunday 6^th of June, with entries officially closing on Monday the 7^th of June at 9pm.

St James Quarter Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/stjamesquarter/

St James Quarter Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/St-James-Quarter-105737954246444

‘Monumental’: Edinburgh’s new skyline revealed as final crane comes down at St James Quarter

Following five years of construction, 17,378 tonnes of steel, and an estimated 2.835m working hours completed – the final crane at St James Quarter has officially been removed, revealing Edinburgh’s skyline to the public.

Since construction began, 13 cranes have shaped the city skyline and played a key role in the construction of the £1bn project. The removal of the final crane marks another celebratory milestone for St James Quarter, which is working towards opening at the end of June.

Reaching peaks of over 88m, the St James Quarter cranes grows almost as tall as the Capital’s iconic Calton Hill and, over the years, became a much-loved fixture of the Edinburgh skyline. The cranes became a local talking point within the city and lit up the sky at night – a permanent lightshow visible from far and wide.

As the final crane is lowered, it signifies another step forward for the long-anticipated opening of one of the most significant UK city centre transformations undertaken in the last decade.

The phase one opening will bring together brands from global to local, combining convenience and luxury with an offering that includes; Zara, Mango, Pull & Bear, Rituals, H&M, Kurt Geiger, Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein, as well as Dune, Bonnie & Wild, Bross Bagels and Salerno Pizza, ensuring there is something for everyone to enjoy.

Still to come in the latter phases of the development over the next 18 months will be an enticing mix of more shops, restaurants and bars, a W Edinburgh, a boutique Everyman Cinema, a Roomzzz Aparthotel, New Eidyn residences that will provide 152 premium apartments with exceptional amenities, by developers Native Land, and an unrivalled guest experience providing customers with an enviable events programme in a range of new and attractive public spaces.

Martin Perry, Director of Development at St James Quarter, said: “The removal of our final crane is another monumental moment not only for the team at St James Quarter, but for the City of Edinburgh.

“Our cranes have become a significant addition to Edinburgh’s iconic viewpoints for many years and although many will be sad to see them go, it does mean we’re one step closer to opening our doors next month.

“Our phase one opening is a significant moment in Edinburgh’s history, and we can’t wait to share what lies behind the quarter with the people of Edinburgh and beyond.”

Behind the Quarter

Never-before-seen footage of St James Quarter

St James Quarter has released a brand-new video taking viewers ‘Behind the Quarter’, with the team at Edinburgh’s game changing development exploring one of the most significant city centre transformations currently underway in the UK.

The video contains exclusive never-before-seen footage of inside St James Quarter, featuring a special behind the scenes sneak peek of the stunning shopping galleria which will host over 80 brands and an enticing mix of restaurant and bars.

The video dives into the history of the site and showcases what is to come for Edinburgh’s new retail-led district.

The first episode of the Behind the Quarter series features Martin Perry, Director of Development, Nick Peel, Managing Director and Rochelle Burgess, Marketing Director at St James Quarter.

“We spent really the first two years demolishing and then excavating down to the lowest level and then the next two and a half years building back up.” – Martin Perry
“When I look at the quality of the work, it is a cathedral in a world heritage site.” – Nick Peel
“We aren’t a shopping centre, we’re creating this new district.” – Rochelle Weir

The team discuss the St James Quarter journey so far – from concept to construction, details of the new brands opening next month, and share their thoughts on how the new lifestyle district is set to transform and enhance the city.

The full video can be streamed here.

To download the teaser content, click here.