St James Quarter – Page 5 – The NEN

Christmas: The lights are on at St James Quarter!

It’s Christmaaaas! St James Quarter has celebrated the launch of its festive season with Forth One’s Boogie, Arlene and Marty hosting its ‘Christmas Light Switch On’ event on Thursday.

They were joined by representatives from St James Quarter’s charity partners, Cash 4 Kids and Deaf Action, who pushed the big red button and declared it officially Christmas at The Quarter.

Edinburgh Rock Choir echoed joyful tunes throughout the galleria as crowds gathered to watch over 40 glowing sculptures light up and give an explosion of colourful sparkle.

To help spread Christmas cheer, St James Quarter also donated over £6,000 worth of prizes to Forth One’s Boogie in the Morning ‘Supervan’ campaign, which has raised £100,545 to support children who are disadvantaged by poverty, the rise in living costs and trauma.

The prizes, which included a £500 gift voucher, a 12-month Sky Q TV subscription, dinner for four at Maki & Ramen and a year’s membership at Everyman, were collected during the ‘Christmas Light Switch On’ event ready for the lucky winner to take home.

Nick Peel, Managing Director at St James Quarter, said: “It was fantastic to see everyone turn out for the Christmas light switch on last night, it was a true moment of togetherness and community.

“Boogie, Arlene and Marty got the crowds ready for the festive season and we are so proud that St James Quarter was able to support the Supervan campaign this year – it’s been wonderful to see the exceptional amount of funds raised to support those who need it most. We wish all of our guests in Edinburgh and across Scotland a very Merry Christmas for 2022.”

St James Quarter, Edinburgh, Christmas Light Switch on

Victoria Hendry, Charity Manager at Radio Forth’s Cash for Kids said: “We have been absolutely delighted with the donations towards our Supervan campaign from St James Quarter and the many retailers.

“Over £6,000 worth of items and experiences was an absolutely fantastic effort and what better way to celebrate than ending our Supervan journey at The Quarter by having Boogie, Arlene and Marty switching on the Christmas Lights.

“We are so grateful to be the chosen charity partner alongside Deaf Action and bringing our cause to the forefront at Edinburgh’s most incredible venue.”

Chistmas is just around the Quarter!

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas at St James Quarter! The festive season kicks off with the official ‘Christmas Light Switch On’, hosted by Forth One’s Boogie and Arlene tomorrow (Thursday, 10 November) from 6pm.

Taking place on Register Square, the dazzling event is open to the public and free to attend, with representatives from charity partners, Cash 4 Kids and Deaf Action, set to push the big red button and light up The Quarter for Christmas.

St James Quarter’s retailers are also getting involved by revealing their glitzy Christmas window displays to accompany the 40 glowing star sculptures that will give an explosion of gold sparkle throughout the galleria for shoppers to admire. The Edinburgh Rock Choir will also be spreading Christmas cheer by taking to the stage and singing loud for all to hear.

This Christmas St James Quarter has donated over £6,000 worth of prizes to the Forth One Boogie in the Morning Supervan campaign which raises vital funds to support children who are disadvantaged by poverty, the rise in living costs and trauma.

The contents of the Supervan will mean the winner’s Christmas shopping is complete with a variety of experiences and goodies from businesses across Scotland.

The donations from The Quarter include a £500 gift voucher, a 12-month Sky Q TV subscription, dinner for four at Maki Ramen, a year’s membership at Everyman plus many more.

The text lines to enter will be open from 06:00 – 10:00 on Friday 11th November, for further details tune into Forth One Boogie in the Morning.

Nick Peel, Managing Director at St James Quarter, said: “There is no better way to mark the beginning of the festive season than joining our charity partners to switch on the shimmering stars throughout the Galleria.

“This year we are also joined by Boogie and Arlene who will no doubt be singing along to the Edinburgh Rock Choir. As the past few years have shown, this time of year is about bringing people together and enjoying the Christmas spirit. We look forward to welcoming our guests and filling St James Quarter with festive joy”.

St James Quarter brings styles off the rack and onto the track

Fashion ‘flashmob’ comes to the capital ahead of Edinburgh Style Weekend

Edinburgh’s iconic tram played host to a fashion flashmob as St James Quarter celebrated the launch of its Edinburgh Style Weekend (3^rd – 6^th November), taking this season’s must have styles off the rack and onto the track.

Commuters who surprisingly found themselves on the FROW were given a sneak peek of the runway looks from this weekend’s fashion shows, with models styled in stylish, sparkly, attention grabbing looks from brands including Reiss, John Lewis & Partners, & Other Stories, Bershka, Stradivarius and Superdry – it was definitely an unexpected moment.

Those who missed out will have the chance to see all the looks and more on the runway at this weekend’s Edinburgh Style taking place on the Quarter’s Level 5 rooftop, with epic views of the city as well as being projected through the Quarter and beyond.

The shows will feature looks styled by the Grazia fashion team as well as an evening Gala show featuring an additional show by flagship store John Lewis & Partners.

Edinburgh Style will feature styling sessions with the Grazia team, as well as workshops with some of the Quarters’ best loved brands including John Lewis, Kiehl’s, designers Ro & Zo and Dyson. Events include:

Hair Styling Masterclass with Dyson
Christmas Gifting with Grazia
H Beauty Carnival
Stylish Interiors with Skela Studios
Sleep Workshop with Neom

Beauty lovers are invited to immerse themselves in this season’s trending makeup looks by visiting H beauty’s exclusive Carnival – featuring a line-up of tutorials, workshops and influencer masterclasses hosted by Love Island superstar Paige Turley

Specially branded Edinburgh Style taxis will also be out and about in the city all weekend, offering complimentary rides to St James Quarter for any lucky fashion lovers who hop on board.

Those travelling by car can also take advantage of reduced parking prices when they stay for three hours or more.

Susan Hewlett, Brand & Marketing Director at St James Quarter, said: “St James Quarter is all about embracing bold and exciting design, launching our first ever catwalk show on one of Edinburgh’s iconic trams was the perfect way to kick off this year’s Edinburgh Style event and give a taste of what’s to come.

“We can’t wait to welcome Scotland’s Fashionistas to Edinburgh Style. If you’re looking for advice on how to upgrade your wardrobe this season, or even a sneak peek at our expert’s must-have items, make sure to grab your ticket – it’s sure to be a great weekend!

For more information on the events taking place from Thursday 3rd November to Sunday 6th November and to buy tickets, visit St James Quarter’s event page at: https://stjamesquarter.com/event/edinburgh-style

Edinburgh Style’s back at St James Quarter

Because you kow Style when you see it

Edinburgh’s most stylish event is back as St James Quarter announces season two of its highly sought after ‘Edinburgh Style’ event, in partnership with Grazia magazine, that is set to inspire people across the city.

From Thursday 3^rd to Sunday 6^th November, Edinburgh’s fashionistas and beauty buffs can expect an explosion of unmissable events, insightful masterclasses and in-store offers and experiences.

Across the long weekend, guests can attend style sessions and workshops with the Grazia team and brands including John Lewis, Kiehl’s, Neom, designers Ro & Zo and Dyson, and immerse themselves in H beauty’s exclusive Carnival – the ultimate beauty party of masterclasses, influencer meet and greets and live performers.

And it doesn’t stop there, St James Quarter will host a series of dramatic fashion shows live from the level 5 rooftop on Saturday 5^th November showcasing seasonal trends styled by Grazia and featuring some of the most exciting and stylish brands in The Quarter.

Tickets are available on a first come, first served basis and can be purchased online here.

To celebrate the upcoming event, St James Quarter is placing four giant mirrored frames at some of Edinburgh’s most Instagrammable locations for you to show us your STYLE to be in with a chance of winning £250 to spend at Edinburgh Style.

The giant mirrored frames will be located at St Andrews Square, Portobello Promenade and Potterrow Plaza from Monday 24th to Sunday 30th October, while the final one will be at Calton Hill from Friday 28th to Sunday 30th October.

Style icons are encouraged to share a selfie on Instagram or Facebook and tag and follow @StJamesQuarter to be in with a chance of winning the prize. The competition will run from Monday 24th to Sunday 30th October with the winner being announced on Monday 31st October.

Susan Hewlett, Brand and Marketing Director at St James Quarter, said: “Edinburgh Style will bring an amazing line-up of fashion talks, in-store experiences and of course a spectacular fashion first catwalk show on Level 5 of St James Quarter. The event further cements the Quarter’s reputation for creating unexpected, exciting and vibrant events and experiences.

“Edinburgh is a city filled with style and we want everyone to show us their fashion creds and have some fun with our giant mirrored frames and flaunt their own individual looks ahead of the event.

“We are also thrilled to be collaborating with Grazia, inviting their team to Edinburgh and the Quarter to experience the amazing fashion and style on offer in the city. If you’re in Edinburgh from the 3^rd – 6^th November, make sure to come down and check out everything we have going on – it’s not to be missed!”

For more information on the events taking place from Thursday 3^rd November to Sunday 6^th November and to buy tickets, visit St James Quarter’s event page at: https://stjamesquarter.com/event/Edinburgh-style

T&Cs for the competition can be found on the St James Quarter social channels.

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

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

St James Quarter and Fuse team up to support Scottish employment market

Following the success of last year’s recruitment fair, St James Quarter has partnered with retail and hospitality recruitment service FUSE to provide a new programme of career opportunities for the sector across Scotland.

The recruitment fair will be held in St James Quarter’s Level 1 unit beside Next from 10:00 – 17:00 on Tuesday 11^th of October and those interested are encouraged to sign up now.

In 2021, the recruitment fair saw 300 local applicants attend on the day with 150 successful candidates invited for paid trial shifts and second interviews with many offered a job on the same day. The joint initiative is intended to provide a much needed boost for the local economy by creating new job opportunities across Edinburgh’s retail and hospitality industry.

St James Quarter is on track to sustain the target of 3,000 new job roles for the local economy with an additional 1,500 vacancies set to be created following continual expansion plans within The Quarter and the development of W Hotel. FUSE has already successfully placed 2,000 candidates within The Quarter since its opening.

This year at the recruitment fair, FUSE will be recruiting for 300 vacancies with a variety of positions from Christmas temp seasonal staff through to full and part time roles in a range of levels in retail, restaurant management, customer service and maintenance. Brands from across the Quarter such as Stradivarius, Bonnie and Wild, John Lewis & Partners, Coach, NEOM Organics and Duck & Waffle will all be looking for their newest team members.

In a commitment to support the future of retail in Scotland, St James Quarter and FUSE are continuing to work together to help boost employment in the capital after 62% of those working at The Quarter revealed in a staff survey that their previous job was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, leaving them unemployed and struggling to find work.

Kitti Hovarth, Sales Assistant at Pull & Bear, who found work at St James Quarter through FUSE shares their experience: “During the pandemic, and like many others, I was left unemployed.

“I was unsure where I wanted to take my career and what opportunities were available to me at such an uncertain time. After finding out about FUSE and the recruitment fair, I was able to land a job at St James Quarter as a Sales Assistant.

“This opportunity has allowed me to not only gain experience and expand my skillset in customer service and teamwork, but it’s also boosted my confidence and taken a huge worry off my shoulders”

Jennifer Laseen, Hospitality and F&B Director, St James Quarter said: “We are delighted to be working with FUSE again to find the right candidates for some amazing roles we have across the Quarter.

“The team at St James Quarter are proud to continue to support our team members and nurture new talent and we are encouraging all those who are interested to sign up to the recruitment fair now to avoid any disappointment.”

Niamh Murphy, FUSE Manager, added: “The FUSE team are passionate about supporting St James Quarter and the local Edinburgh communities match employees to the right role within the Quarter.

“Our expert knowledge of the industry allows us to provide a tailored approach to recruitment and continue to support team members and employers with further training, accredited qualifications, and ongoing networking opportunities”

Haute Dolci opens its doors in Edinburgh this Saturday

Luxury restaurant chain Haute Dolci will be opening its doors to diners in Edinburgh on the 8^thof October, creating 30 local jobs and introducing its famous dessert and brunch menu to its first-ever Scottish store.

The flagship store is located in the vibrant St James Quarter and will form part of the cosmopolitan landscape of the city, offering shoppers a chance to enjoy the best in decadent sweet treats and mouth-watering savoury dishes.

The grand opening will start at 10am and will include a variety of entertainment throughout the day, so diners are urged to get there early to make the most of a DJ and magician.

Daniel Gillett, the restaurant manager for Haute Dolci in Edinburgh, said: “We’re delighted to be able to open our first ever Scottish store, bringing Haute Dolci’s stylish and friendly atmosphere to the people of Edinburgh. 

“The team has worked incredibly hard to ensure we’re ready to welcome guests to the grand opening and we are so excited to see lots of faces over the course of the day!”

 The grand opening follows the famous key hunt, which offers lucky dessert-lovers access to loyalty club benefits and discounts. Clues are still being shared via the restaurant chain’s social media channels — Facebook and Instagram in the run-up to the opening.       

For more information on the Haute Dolci brand or to make a reservation at the new Edinburgh restaurant, please visit hautedolci.co.uk.  

Haute Dolci franchise opportunities are available across the UK; please contact  Franchise@hauteworld.co.uk for more information.

Her Royal Highness Princess Royal opens St James Quarter

St James Quarter, a 1.7m sq ft lifestyle district in the heart of Edinburgh, has been officially opened by Her Royal Highness, The Princess Royal.

She was joined by the Lord Provost of Edinburgh, Councillor Robert Aldridge, where she unveiled the foundation stone for what is one of the most significant city centre transformations currently underway in the UK.

Before the opening ceremony, HRH The Princess Royal was taken on a tour of the £1bn project, which includes 850,000 sq ft of retail and leisure space and an Everyman Cinema.

It will also soon feature W Hotel Edinburgh, a 75-bed Roomzzz aparthotel and 152 residential apartments called New Eidyn. St James Quarter, which is being delivered by Nuveen Real Estate, has been designed to integrate seamlessly with Edinburgh’s transport network, cultural calendar and historic fabric.

HRH The Princess Royal, who was introduced to businesses along the shopping galleria, ascended to the site’s highest point at what will be the UK’s second ever W Hotel, to take in the newest panorama of Edinburgh before sampling Scottish fayre at Bonnie & Wild – a food hall dedicated to promoting Scotland’s independent food and drink producers.

She also met representatives from retail and hospitality academy FUSE Edinburgh, which in partnership with St James Quarter is helping boost local employment through training and job opportunities on site and throughout the rest of the city.

HRH The Princess Royal also visited New Eidyn, a new 152-apartment residential development by Native Land. HRH The Princess Royal also planted a tree as part of Queen Elizabeth II’s Green Canopy initiative in New Eidyn’s private residents’ ‘Gardens in the Sky’, adding to over a million trees that have, and will continue to be planted in Her Majesty’s name.

Her tour was rounded off by the official opening ceremony, where HRH The Princess Royal was piped into Register Square and unveiled the foundation stone. She also gave a short speech in front of guests and members of the public and was gifted a scarf custom-made out of St James Quarter tartan.

The tartan, designed by Edinburgh College of Art graduate Rosie Baird is unique to SJQ and is legally registered.

Martin Perry, Director of Development, Real Estate, Europe at Nuveen Real Estate, said: “We are immensely grateful and honoured to have hosted Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal. St James Quarter is at the heart of Edinburgh’s success story and, as the city bounces back, we see time and time again why we chose to invest here.

“A city with transformation and growth at its core, we are delighted to be able to provide such a revolutionary offering.”

EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND – SEPTEMBER 29: XX during a VIP tour of St James Quarter on September 29, 2022 in Edinburgh, Scotland. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images for St James Quarter)

Lord Provost and Lord Lieutenant of Edinburgh, Councillor Robert Aldridge commented: “It has been a great honour to receive Her Royal Highness in Edinburgh today, and to accompany Her on a tour of this transformative project for the city.

“The opening of St James Quarter is the fruition of over a decade’s work to deliver a retail and lifestyle district unique to Edinburgh, which celebrates its spirit, history and culture.”

St James Quarter lands new retail brands

COS and NEOM to open new stores at St James Quarter

St James Quarter, the 1.7 million sq ft retail-led lifestyle district in Edinburgh, will lease a collective 8,084 sq ft to COS and NEOM.

Chris Pyne, Head of Leasing at St James Quarter, commented: “These new signings bring us a step closer to fully letting the galleria, and with the whole scheme now 95% let we have put ourselves an enviable position one year since opening.

“The centre has dealt remarkably well with the effects of the pandemic, with a continued positive response from our customer base translating to increased footfall levels and occupier demand from standout retail, cosmetic, leisure and F&B brands who can see the long-term appeal of the lifestyle-led retail destination that is St James Quarter.”

COS, a fashion brand dedicated to quality and sustainability, has picked the lifestyle quarter as the location for its new Scotland store, which will feature an interesting new concept for its fit out. This will be its first store in Edinburgh spanning 7,483 sq ft.

Wellbeing specialists and Times Top 100 brand, NEOM Organics, will also be opening the doors to their sanctuary of calm, creating a 601 sq ft haven for customers to discover each of the brands natural wellbeing ranges including their iconic Wellbeing Pods, natural candles, access to complimentary wellbeing advice and personalised consultations. The brand, which was founded by a former journalist in 2005, will be located on level 2.

St James Quarter’s latest announcement follows on from a flurry of F&B signings including itsu and The Botanist.

St James Quarter has gone from strength to strength offering an impressive and growing list of names throughout the retail and leisure sector including Wingstop, Thai Express, Boss, Coach, & Other Stories, Mango, Zara, REISS, Bershka, Pull & Bear, Stradivarius, Miele, Next, H&M, JD Sports, John Lewis and many more.

Haute Dolci opens its doors in Edinburgh this Friday

Luxury restaurant chain Haute Dolci will be opening its doors to diners in Edinburgh on the 9^thof September, creating 30 local jobs and introducing its famous dessert and brunch menu to its first-ever Scottish store.

The grand opening will start at 7pm and will include a variety of entertainment throughout the day, so diners are urged to get there early to make the most of a DJ, magician and other exciting acts.

“The team has worked incredibly hard to ensure we’re ready to welcome guests to the grand opening and we are so excited to see lots of faces over the course of the day!” 

For more information on the Haute Dolci brand or to make a reservation at the new Edinburgh restaurant, please visit hautedolci.co.uk.  

Haute Dolci franchise opportunities are available across the UK; please contact Franchise@hauteworld.co.uk for more information.

El Perro Negro is set to add some Spanish flavour to the capital with tasty collaboration

This month, speciality Spanish wholesaler Brindisa are coming to Edinburgh as part of an exclusive tapas takeover with El Perro Negro at Bonnie & Wild.

Celebrating artisan and authentic Spanish products, and of course, Iberian burgers, Bonnie & Wild in the St James Quarter, will play host to award-winning El Perro Negro and Brindisa, for an evening of delicious feasting on Wednesday 28th September..

Following on from the success of El Perro Negro’s ‘The Spaniard’ collaboration burger with Brindisa – which had Iberian beef, marrow butter, San Simon cheese, sobrasada, confit garlic mayo and chimichurri, the award-winning burger supremos decided to take the partnership one step further with a night completely dedicated to Spanish cooking and culture.

Foodie fans will love the tapas sharing feast with the menu offering an array of dishes with three standout Spanish burgers, including; Iberico pork cheek finished in a Pedro Ximenez glaze, pickled shallots and truffle mayo; Presa Iberico, chimichurri, confit garlic mayo and Galician beef with smoked hollandaise.

Sharing dishes on the menu are authentic, premium and delicious. They include speciality Iberico croquetas; smoked Nardin anchovies, Navarrico piquillo peppers on charred sourdough and olive oil drizzle; mouth-watering chorizo cooked in cider with chickpeas finished with PX vinegar and speciality Spanish charcuterie and cheeses.

The evening will be served family-style to reflect the Spanish culture of bringing people together over great food and wine.

Nick Watkins, co-founder of El Perro Negro, explains: “As well as being purveyors of imported Spanish fine foods like charcuterie, artisan cheeses and olive oils, Brindisa has two shops in London and five restaurants including one in foodie haven, Borough Market.

Gayle Swan, Brindisa regional manager for Scotland, said: “This collaboration marks a new direction for Brindisa. We have an incredible base in London, and this evening gives us a chance to showcase the quality and diversity of Spanish products that we offer.”

The El Perro Negro x Brindisa Tapas Takeover takes place at Bonnie & Wild on Wednesday 28th September with two sittings available at 5.30pm and 8.00pm.

The event is priced at £55pp (+booking fee) and includes three Spanish sliders each and seven dishes to share between two. With carefully curated Spanish drinks pairing menu options. Guests can choose between Spanish wines or Spanish inspired non-alcoholic cocktails to compliment their meal.

Places are limited and expected to sell out very quickly. Buy tickets and secure a place online HERE.

For more information follow on social: @elperronegroburgers.