World famous names lined up for Liverpool One

6 Jun 2007 

A HOST of top names in the worlds of fashion and food are today unveiled as the latest to sign up to Liverpool One.

Ten world famous names are lined up to take up residence in the £1bn development currently under construction in the city centre.

Trendy clothes stores Republic, Esprit and Urban Outfitters will join sportswear giant Puma at prime locations in the new shopping quarter.

Cafe Rouge, Zizi and Las Iguanas will establish eateries – and could soon be joined by futuristic Japanese venue Yo! Sushi.

Top-class restaurant Brasserie Blanc, owned by world-renowed French chef Raymond Blanc, and seafood specialist Loch Fyne are also lined up for prestigious plots overlooking the new Chavasse Park.

Developer Grosvenor revealed the latest national firms to the ECHO yesterday – and promised there were more to come.

For some of the companies signing up, it is the first time they have moved outside London.

Menswear store Republic and German fashion outlet Esprit have both chosen pitches on the upper floor of South John Street.

They will join the likes of Oasis, Body Shop and Faith in what is described as the “high street” section of Liverpool One.

Puma, with one of its first shops outside London, and US clothing store Urban Outfitters are both set to move into the new Paradise Place, just off Paradise Street.

Italian restaurant Zizi, Latin American venue Las Iguanas and cafe-bar Cafe Rouge, which already has a venue in Metquarter, will all open on the upper floor terrace at South John Street.

Fifty per cent of the available shops in Liverpool One are now taken up, while another 20% are currently under negotiation.

Grosvenor has also unveiled the first image of the new walkway cutting through from Church Street to Liverpool One, currently being created at the old HMV store.

Neil Barber, head of retail leasing at Grosvenor, said: “We are now beginning to attract retailers completely new to Liverpool.

“Our team is going to surrounding towns and cities, like Southport and Chester, to find good operations we can entice in.

“We hope to find some new, exciting names who thought they could not come into Liverpool – because we have affordable rents and flexible lease terms.”

With building work well under way it is expected that the shopping mall will be open by the summer of 2008.

Liverpool One facts

£294m has been spent on construction so far – with almost 75% of the development built.

100% of the district is now in the hands of Grosvenor.

88 lifts, costing £10m, are being installed - 51 for passengers and 37 for goods.

25 escalators will carry shoppers, 21 of which are in place.

3,300 lights will brighten up Liverpool One’s car parks.

JOE RILEY says . . .

WAITER turned wonder chef Raymond Blanc is about to boost our tastebuds with a brasserie befitting of the £1bn Liverpool One complex.

Closely following will be another world brand, Japanese food giant Yo Sushi, and for good measure in a maritime city, seafood specialists Loch Fyne.

All adding to Liverpool’s growing select band of restaurants making it into the pages of national and international guides.

It’s just what we need to fight off mediocrity and the bland repetition of a supposedly wide choice in eating out.

This is the real thing, providing true competition , and proven quality, not only in the kitchen, but equally with table service.

Staff who take a pride in their job and know what they’re doing.

The challenge to patrons is to be adventurous.

There’s more to life than a pan of your Auntie Lil’s Scouse. by Nick Coligan, Liverpool Echo

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