New Princesshay Quarter in Exeter Opens

Date: 23 Jul 2007

Councillor Peter Edwards, Leader of Exeter City Council said, ‘The opening on 20th September is the culmination of many years of hard work by the City Council, Land Securities and the contractor Sir Robert McAlpine. The new Princesshay is a very high quality addition to the City Centre which will attract a wide range of shoppers and visitors to Exeter. The many restaurants and traffic free streets will also be popular with residents and visitors. The completion of Princesshay is a major milestone in the City's regeneration.’
The launch celebrations will begin in the morning with a ribbon cutting ceremony in Princesshay Square to signal the official opening of Princesshay. Then the fun begins! A dynamic and eclectic mix of acclaimed street entertainment will be on offer throughout the day including magicians, stilt walkers, street theatre, comedy acts, musicians and much more. Family entertainment will also take place on Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd September.
The area of Princesshay has been in development for over 5 years with final planning consent granted in 2003. In January 2005 contractor, Sir Robert McAlpine, began the main programme of work to build the Princesshay development. Demolition began in April 2005 and by December 2006 the Department Store building in Bedford Street had been handed over to Debenhams for fit out, the first in this hugely influential project.
Sally Henley Princesshay Manager comments, ‘We are very excited that after 5 years of planning, this shopping quarter is about to open. It has a great variety of well known retailers, together with some fantastic local independents. The irresistible range of shopping and eating establishments, together with the heritage city location, will be a big draw for shoppers in the region, keen to enjoy a very special and exceptionally unique shopping experience.’
A significant new inter connecting streetscape, Princesshay’s distinctive building designs, new pedestrianised open spaces and public art, together with the heritage city surroundings and views of the Cathedral, create a stylish uplifting area, in which Exeter shoppers and visitors can relax, shop and eat out.
In addition to the attractive new environment, the Princesshay Quarter also includes a tantalising mix of over 60 new stores; all open seven days a week, with late night shopping until 8pm on Thursdays. Anchor department store Debenhams, approximately 130,000 square feet, offers shoppers a state of the art store with a wide range of products and services. Other popular Exeter retailers moving into Princesshay to open larger stores include Fat Face, who will open their ‘Fattest ever UK store’, Next, Topshop, Virgin and New Look. Fabulous new names to Exeter include Hobbs, Zara, Hotel Chocolat, Schuh, USC, Reiss, Molton Brown, Apple, LK Bennett, Jane Norman, Faith, La Senza and Karen Millen.

John Grimes, Land Securities’ Retail Leasing Director comments, ‘We have tried to attract a spectrum of retailers to Princesshay Exeter, currently not available anywhere else in the South West. We hope city residents and visitors alike will be pleased with the many new shops and restaurants on offer and enjoy visiting the historic city.’

Independent retailers provide a unique opportunity to discover something very different and distinctive. The majority of these specialist stores are located in the Roman Walk area of Princesshay. There is a wide selection of tasty treats at Chandos, a deli specialising in quality produce from all over Europe and beyond. Jewellers Carol Anne specialises in beautiful jewellery created by some of the leading young international designers in the UK and worldwide. Award winning furniture and home accessories retailer Orange Tree, the largest independently owned store in the development, offers a unique range of high quality homestyle products and gifts.

Stationers Parchment stocks a refreshingly different mix of gifts, books and stationery selling inspirational and design-led products. Insideout is a contemporary lifestyle store with a difference. Named Southwest's independent retailer of the year 2007, it offers a diverse range of products from accessories and gifts through to inspirational buys for the home and soul. The latest designer clothing can be found at AH Moda, where fashion labels include Missoni M, Chloe, Rock and Republic and many more. Finally, a new venture for the owner, Stem offers beautiful contemporary flower arrangements suitable for every occasion.
New restaurants include fashionable, family friendly London restaurant Giraffe, Stylish restaurant and cocktail bar ExeShed and Nando's renowned for its spicy Portuguese PERI PERI marinated chicken. The other four restaurants in Princesshay, which opened earlier this year, include Italian Strada, French cuisine experts Café Rouge, Spanish Tapas restaurant La Tasca and award winning pan asian noodle restaurant Wagamama.