Eastgate Shopping Centre (Inverness)
Encyclopedia
Eastgate Shopping Centre is located in Inverness
, serving the largest shopping catchment area in Europe. The centre has two main anchor stores, Marks and Spencer and Debenhams
. The Grosvenor Shopping Centre Fund
are the present owners of the Eastgate.
The Centre is notable for an automaton clock
depicting Noah's Ark
. Each hour a monkey is seen raising up a tree and chiming a bell in order to tell the hour.
, dated 10 March 1997, was to warrant a much needed extension to the Eastgate. This plan was originally rejected on the grounds of the controversial re-location of the Category B listed building on 7/9 Falcon Square (the Falconer Building), inadequate access to the railway station and too many car park spaces that would allow for this development to go ahead. They were more interested in supporting plans particularly around The Academy Centre extension which was going to be anchored by Debenhams.
The plans outlined were going to contain two new bridges connecting the existing centre and the new extension. This was going to be built on land (Millburn Road), north of the centre on the former Railway goods yard area. Marks and Spencer were going to expand their current store over their own service yard. A car park would be built for the extension holding 1500 later been forced to scale back to 1300 spaces. BHS anticipated an interest in being an anchor for the new extension, including room for leisure facility and a 8 screen multiplex cinema.http://195.173.143.171/minutes/headquarters/new_archive/plan/plan_min_sp200397.htm
A later application was accepted, although now without a multiplex cinema. Building work started in 2001 and was opened in 2002. This now included one bridge walkway connecting the new phase with the existing shopping centre, complete with an anchor store and a food court.
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2003/01/16218/17130
The Falcon Square extension is called the Falcon Mall. The original site is now officially called Eastgate Mall, with Eastgate Centre referring to the two buildings together.
As part of this refurbishment, Falcon Square has been rebuilt as a plaza on which a new mercat cross
has been erected, and which has replaced the Town House end of the High Street as a gathering point for civic events.
, Boots, HMV, Waterstones and Argos
. Gap
, which was one of the centre's most affluent shops closed their store in Eastgate in 2008 as part of a national cutback. The site has since been replaced by Peacocks. On a side note, they also have a 'bridge' joining with Supermarket Retailers purpose built Morrisons store, which is often a destination of shoppers in the Eastgate Center.
List of all businesses in the Eastgate centre -
Monsoon Accessorize,
Argos (retailer)
,
Atrium Cafe Ben & Jerry's
,
apple store as of september 24th 2011
Birthdays,
Boots
,
Burger Express,
Cafe Centro,
Cardland,
Chisholm Hunter,
Claires,
Crabtree & Evelyn
,
Debenhams
,
Early Learning Centre
,
East,
Ernest Jones (retailer)
,
Evans (clothing retailer)
,
Fat Face
,
Filling Station,
French Connection (clothing)
,
Fuel Juice Bar,
Game (retailer)
,
H Samuel,
H&M
,
Hawkin's Bazaar
,
HMV
,
Internacionale,
Jones Bootmaker
,
Joy,
Julian Graves
,
KFC
,
La Senza
,
Lapis Gold,
Laura Ashley
,
Lorimers,
Marks & Spencer
,
Mountain Warehouse
,
New Look (clothing retailer),
Next (clothing),
O'Briens,
O2 (United Kingdom)
,
Past Times,
Peacocks (retailer)
,
Phase Eight,
Pizza Express
,
Pizza Hut
,
Quiz,
Republic (retailer)
,
River Island
,
Schuh
,
SKY
,
Starbucks Coffee,
T-Mobile
,
The Body Shop
,
The Good Food Shop,
The Officers Club
,
The Perfume Shop
,
Thomson Holidays
, Thorntons
,
Timpson (retailer)
,
USC,
Vision Express
,
Vodafone
,
Waterstones,
Zara (clothing)
,
Zoo,
3 Mobile Store
, Pizza Hut
and Burger Express.
Inverness
Inverness is a city in the Scottish Highlands. It is the administrative centre for the Highland council area, and is regarded as the capital of the Highlands of Scotland...
, serving the largest shopping catchment area in Europe. The centre has two main anchor stores, Marks and Spencer and Debenhams
Debenhams
Debenhams plc is a British retailer operating under a department store format in the UK, Ireland and Denmark, and franchise stores in other countries. The Company was founded in the eighteenth century as a single store in London and has now grown to around 160 shops...
. The Grosvenor Shopping Centre Fund
Grosvenor Group
Grosvenor is a privately owned property group with offices in 18 cities. It has four regional investment & development businesses in Britain & Ireland, the Americas, Australia and Asia Pacific; an international fund management business, which operates across these markets and in continental Europe;...
are the present owners of the Eastgate.
The Centre is notable for an automaton clock
Automaton clock
An automaton clock or automata clock is a type of striking clock featuring automatons. Clocks like these were built from the Middle Ages through to Victorian times in Europe. A Cuckoo clock is a simple form of this type of clock. The automatons usually perform on the hour, half-hour or...
depicting Noah's Ark
Noah's Ark
Noah's Ark is a vessel appearing in the Book of Genesis and the Quran . These narratives describe the construction of the ark by Noah at God's command to save himself, his family, and the world's animals from the worldwide deluge of the Great Flood.In the narrative of the ark, God sees the...
. Each hour a monkey is seen raising up a tree and chiming a bell in order to tell the hour.
Eastgate development
The Eastgate shopping centre was first opened in the city centre by Sun Alliance in 1983, with Marks and Spencer as the anchor store on brownfield land.Eastgate refurbishment
The Eastgate shopping centre underwent a refurbishment plan in 1993. http://195.173.143.171/minutes/headquarters/new_archive/plan/plan_min_sp200397.htmEastgate extension
The first application sent to Highland Council by the centre developers Royal & SunAllianceRoyal & SunAlliance
RSA Insurance Group plc , commonly known as RSA, is a global general insurance company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It has over 20 million customers in 36 countries across Asia, Europe, North America and South America....
, dated 10 March 1997, was to warrant a much needed extension to the Eastgate. This plan was originally rejected on the grounds of the controversial re-location of the Category B listed building on 7/9 Falcon Square (the Falconer Building), inadequate access to the railway station and too many car park spaces that would allow for this development to go ahead. They were more interested in supporting plans particularly around The Academy Centre extension which was going to be anchored by Debenhams.
The plans outlined were going to contain two new bridges connecting the existing centre and the new extension. This was going to be built on land (Millburn Road), north of the centre on the former Railway goods yard area. Marks and Spencer were going to expand their current store over their own service yard. A car park would be built for the extension holding 1500 later been forced to scale back to 1300 spaces. BHS anticipated an interest in being an anchor for the new extension, including room for leisure facility and a 8 screen multiplex cinema.http://195.173.143.171/minutes/headquarters/new_archive/plan/plan_min_sp200397.htm
A later application was accepted, although now without a multiplex cinema. Building work started in 2001 and was opened in 2002. This now included one bridge walkway connecting the new phase with the existing shopping centre, complete with an anchor store and a food court.
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2003/01/16218/17130
The Falcon Square extension is called the Falcon Mall. The original site is now officially called Eastgate Mall, with Eastgate Centre referring to the two buildings together.
As part of this refurbishment, Falcon Square has been rebuilt as a plaza on which a new mercat cross
Mercat cross
A mercat cross is a market cross found in Scottish cities and towns where trade and commerce was a part of economic life. It was originally a place where merchants would gather, and later became the focal point of many town events such as executions, announcements and proclamations...
has been erected, and which has replaced the Town House end of the High Street as a gathering point for civic events.
Eastgate Car Park
There are two car parks on the site, one which is opposite the existing centre and the other adjacent to the extension, close to the main Inverness Railway Station. The car parks are very strict where they are now shut out with normal opening hours.Stores
The Eastgate is a firm shopping destination in the highlands, carrying many of the shops in the city and surrounding areas. Along with the anchor units, there at least 60 units including the very visitable 4front storeH&MH&M
H & M Hennes & Mauritz AB is a Swedish retail-clothing company, known for its fast-fashion clothing offerings for women, men, teenagers and children....
, Boots, HMV, Waterstones and Argos
Argos (retailer)
Argos is the largest general-goods retailer in the United Kingdom and Ireland with over 800 stores. It is unique amongst major retailers in the UK in that it is a catalogue merchant...
. Gap
Gap (clothing retailer)
The Gap, Inc. is an American clothing and accessories retailer based in San Francisco, California, and founded in 1969 by Donald G. Fisher and Doris F. Fisher. The company has five primary brands: the namesake Gap banner, Banana Republic, Old Navy, Piperlime and Athleta. As of September 2008,...
, which was one of the centre's most affluent shops closed their store in Eastgate in 2008 as part of a national cutback. The site has since been replaced by Peacocks. On a side note, they also have a 'bridge' joining with Supermarket Retailers purpose built Morrisons store, which is often a destination of shoppers in the Eastgate Center.
List of all businesses in the Eastgate centre -
Monsoon Accessorize,
Argos (retailer)
Argos (retailer)
Argos is the largest general-goods retailer in the United Kingdom and Ireland with over 800 stores. It is unique amongst major retailers in the UK in that it is a catalogue merchant...
,
Atrium Cafe Ben & Jerry's
Ben & Jerry's
Ben & Jerry's is an American ice cream company, a division of the British-Dutch Unilever conglomerate, that manufactures ice cream, frozen yogurt, sorbet, and ice cream novelty products, manufactured by Ben & Jerry's Homemade Holdings, Inc., headquartered in South Burlington, Vermont, United...
,
apple store as of september 24th 2011
Birthdays,
Boots
Boots UK
Boots UK Limited , is a leading pharmacy chain in the United Kingdom, with outlets in most high streets throughout the country...
,
Burger Express,
Cafe Centro,
Cardland,
Chisholm Hunter,
Claires,
Crabtree & Evelyn
Crabtree & Evelyn
Crabtree & Evelyn is an American retailer of body and home products with stores globally. According to its website, Crabtree & Evelyn uses over 160 “natural botanical ingredients” in its skin care products. It is wholly owned by KLK, Kuala Lumpur Kepong Berhad., a Malaysian company that also owns...
,
Debenhams
Debenhams
Debenhams plc is a British retailer operating under a department store format in the UK, Ireland and Denmark, and franchise stores in other countries. The Company was founded in the eighteenth century as a single store in London and has now grown to around 160 shops...
,
Early Learning Centre
Early Learning Centre
The Early Learning Centre is a British chain of shops selling toys for very young children.-History:Originally set up as a mail order company in 1974 and was always based near Swindon; by 1980 it had ten shops; and it has grown to include 215 shops in the UK and over 80 in 19 other countries such...
,
East,
Ernest Jones (retailer)
Ernest Jones (retailer)
Ernest Jones is a British jeweller and watchmaker. Established in 1949, its first store was opened in Oxford Street, London. Ernest Jones specialises in upmarket diamonds and watches, stocking brands such as Gucci and Emporio Armani....
,
Evans (clothing retailer)
Evans (clothing retailer)
Evans is a women's clothing retailer located in the United Kingdom and Ireland. They have over 300 stores around the UK selling plus-size clothing, lingerie, wide fitting shoes, swimwear and accessories.- Timeline :...
,
Fat Face
Fat Face
Fat Face is a chain of clothing retailers selling its own branded products. The company has over 190 stores in the United Kingdom, with international stores in Singapore, Malaysia, the United Arab Emirates, Ireland, France, Kuwait, Oman and Qatar. The chain sells clothes aimed at men, women and...
,
Filling Station,
French Connection (clothing)
French Connection (clothing)
French Connection is a retailer and wholesaler of fashion clothing and accessories. Founded in 1972 by Stephen Marks it is based in London, is listed on the London Stock Exchange and operates globally....
,
Fuel Juice Bar,
Game (retailer)
GAME (retailer)
The Game Group plc is a British video games retail company. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE SmallCap Index....
,
H Samuel,
H&M
H&M
H & M Hennes & Mauritz AB is a Swedish retail-clothing company, known for its fast-fashion clothing offerings for women, men, teenagers and children....
,
Hawkin's Bazaar
Hawkin's Bazaar
Hawkin's Bazaar is a British novelty gift and toy shop chain based in Beccles, England. Hawkin's Bazaar offers a unique and extensive range of unusual toys, gifts, gadgets and curiosities...
,
HMV
HMV
His Master's Voice is a trademark in the music business, and for many years was the name of a large record label. The name was coined in 1899 as the title of a painting of the dog Nipper listening to a wind-up gramophone...
,
Internacionale,
Jones Bootmaker
Jones Bootmaker
Jones Bootmaker is a UK-based footwear retailer with over 80 branches throughout the United Kingdom.- History :The story of Jones Bootmaker began in 1857 when Alfred Jones and his wife Emma, opened a footwear shop in Bayswater, London....
,
Joy,
Julian Graves
Julian Graves
Julian Graves is a health food retailer, with 255 stores operating in the United Kingdom and the Republic Of Ireland. They sell health foods, a limited range of kitchenware, baking ingredients and a variety of confectionery items. NBTY who own rival chain Holland & Barrett reached an agreement to...
,
KFC
KFC
KFC, founded and also known as Kentucky Fried Chicken, is a chain of fast food restaurants based in Louisville, Kentucky, in the United States. KFC has been a brand and operating segment, termed a concept of Yum! Brands since 1997 when that company was spun off from PepsiCo as Tricon Global...
,
La Senza
La Senza
La Senza Corporation is a Canadian fashion retailer based in Dorval, Quebec, Canada, which sells lingerie and intimate apparel. The La Senza brand is currently owned by Limited Brands.- History :...
,
Lapis Gold,
Laura Ashley
Laura Ashley plc
Laura Ashley plc is a British textile design company now controlled by the MUI Group of Malaysia. It was founded by Bernard Ashley, an engineer, and his wife Laura Ashley in 1953 then grew over the next 20 years„“ to become an international retail chain. Sales totalled over £276 million in 2000...
,
Lorimers,
Marks & Spencer
Marks & Spencer
Marks and Spencer plc is a British retailer headquartered in the City of Westminster, London, with over 700 stores in the United Kingdom and over 300 stores spread across more than 40 countries. It specialises in the selling of clothing and luxury food products...
,
Mountain Warehouse
Mountain Warehouse
Mountain Warehouse is a British travel and outdoor retailer selling equipment for hiking, camping and skiing. Founded with its first store in Swindon in 1997 it has grown to have over 140 stores throughout the United Kingdom as well as a store in Rathdowney in the Republic of Ireland and in...
,
New Look (clothing retailer),
Next (clothing),
O'Briens,
O2 (United Kingdom)
O2 (United Kingdom)
Telefónica UK Limited is a telecommunications, internet and financial services provider in the United Kingdom owned by Telefónica, forming part of its Telefónica Europe division...
,
Past Times,
Peacocks (retailer)
Peacocks (retailer)
Peacocks, is a fast fashion retailer based in Cardiff, Wales. The chain is owned by The Peacock Group plc and employs over 6,000 people. There are currently over 600 Peacocks stores in the United Kingdom and more than 200 in 12 overseas countries...
,
Phase Eight,
Pizza Express
Pizza Express
PizzaExpress is a restaurant group with over 400 restaurants across the United Kingdom and 40 overseas in China, Europe, Hong Kong, Japan and the Middle East. It was founded in 1965 by Peter Boizot.In Ireland, PizzaExpress trades under the name Milano....
,
Pizza Hut
Pizza Hut
Pizza Hut is an American restaurant chain and international franchise that offers different styles of pizza along with side dishes including pasta, buffalo wings, breadsticks, and garlic bread....
,
Quiz,
Republic (retailer)
Republic (retailer)
Republic is a men's- and women's-wear retailer with 103 stores in the UK.It was initially founded in 1985 as Just Jeans, but after 1990 changed its name to Best Jeanswear; Republic was launched in 1998...
,
River Island
River Island
River Island is one of Britain's best known high street fashion brands and can be found in most cities across the UK. The brand also has stores in Singapore, Turkey, Poland, Ireland, the Netherlands, and the Middle East.-History:...
,
Schuh
Schuh
Schuh is a Scottish high street and internet branded footwear retailer, operating throughout the British Isles.-History:Schuh was established by Founding Director Sandy Alexander in 1981, with a single shop in North Bridge Arcade, Edinburgh. The company became part of the Glasgow-based Goldbergs...
,
SKY
Sky
The sky is the part of the atmosphere or outer space visible from the surface of any astronomical object. It is difficult to define precisely for several reasons. During daylight, the sky of Earth has the appearance of a pale blue surface because the air scatters the sunlight. The sky is sometimes...
,
Starbucks Coffee,
T-Mobile
T-Mobile
T-Mobile International AG is a German-based holding company for Deutsche Telekom AG's various mobile communications subsidiaries outside Germany. Based in Bonn, Germany, its subsidiaries operate GSM and UMTS-based cellular networks in Europe, the United States, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands...
,
The Body Shop
The Body Shop
The Body Shop International plc, known as The Body Shop, has 2,400 stores in 61 countries, and is the second largest cosmetic franchise in the world, following O Boticario, a Brazilian company...
,
The Good Food Shop,
The Officers Club
The Officers Club
The Officers Club was a menswear retailer based in the United Kingdom.- History :The company was founded in the 1990s in Sunderland, Tyne & Wear, and latterly had its headquarters in Cramlington, Northumberland. There were over 150 stores across the country at the firm's peak...
,
The Perfume Shop
The Perfume Shop
The Perfume Shop is a United Kingdom perfume retailer founded in 1992. The company was acquired by the world's largest health and beauty retailer, A.S. Watson Group in 2005. The company is based in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, with two distribution centres: one in Dunstable which serves The...
,
Thomson Holidays
Thomson Holidays
Thomson Holidays is a UK based travel operator and part of TUI Travel PLC. The company was founded as part of the Thomson Travel Group in 1965 following the acquisition of three package holiday travel agencies and the airline Britannia Airways by Roy Thomson...
, Thorntons
Thorntons
Thorntons is a UK chocolate company established by Joseph William Thornton in 1911. Thorntons today is a £180 million turnover company with nearly 400 shops and cafes and around 200 franchises together with internet, mail order and commercial services...
,
Timpson (retailer)
Timpson (retailer)
Timpson is primarily a shoe repair business with over 750 outlets in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. Timpson also offers key cutting, engraving, jewellery and watch repair, house sign creation and assorted other services, as well as retailing shoe care products.-History:Timpson's...
,
USC,
Vision Express
Vision Express
Vision Express is one of the four major opticians that control 70% of the British market for spectacles and contact lenses.The company opened its first store in 1988 at the MetroCentre. After buying out LensCrafters' UK base, they further increased their number of stores. They had over 220 stores...
,
Vodafone
Vodafone
Vodafone Group Plc is a global telecommunications company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the world's largest mobile telecommunications company measured by revenues and the world's second-largest measured by subscribers , with around 341 million proportionate subscribers as of...
,
Waterstones,
Zara (clothing)
Zara (clothing)
Zara is a Spanish clothing and accessories retailer based in Arteixo, Galicia, and founded in 1975 by Amancio Ortega and Rosalía Mera. It is the flagship chain store of the Inditex group; the fashion group also owns brands such as Massimo Dutti, Pull and Bear, Oysho, Uterqüe, Stradivarius and...
,
Zoo,
3 Mobile Store
Food
On the first floor of the Falcon Mall, there is a large food court, with seating for over 100 people. This food court hosts many big names, such as KFCKFC
KFC, founded and also known as Kentucky Fried Chicken, is a chain of fast food restaurants based in Louisville, Kentucky, in the United States. KFC has been a brand and operating segment, termed a concept of Yum! Brands since 1997 when that company was spun off from PepsiCo as Tricon Global...
, Pizza Hut
Pizza Hut
Pizza Hut is an American restaurant chain and international franchise that offers different styles of pizza along with side dishes including pasta, buffalo wings, breadsticks, and garlic bread....
and Burger Express.