Revealed: Date for the first businesses opening in Edinburgh St James Quarter

Edinburgh’s new St James Quarter will open for business for the first time by the middle of June it is understood, pushed back from its estimated Spring 2021 opening date.

Businesses in Edinburgh St James Quarter are understood to be opening by mid-June

The £1billion development in the city centre will host 85 shops, some for the first time in the Capital, including Stradivarius, Pull & Bear, & Other Stories, Zara, H&M and Next, and 30 restaurants including Bonnie & Wild, The Alchemist and Bross Bagels.

Shopfitters are currently on site of the 1.7 million square feet development working to have the retail units ready in time.

A number of tenants have been given tours of the development in recent days to see their units for the first time.

It is understood they have been advised that they will be able to open for business for the first time by the middle of June.

Work on site began in October 2017 with the closure of the former St James Shopping Centre and the beginning of its demolition, and main construction works began in 2018.

Due to Covid-19 the project has seen major delays as it was originally set to open in October 2020.

Following the original delay, Spring 2021 was the estimated date of opening, however it is now understood that due to Scottish government imposed restrictions such as a ban on construction works St James Quarter will now open in early summer, around the planned time of restrictions easing and the economy reopening.

The W hotel remains scheduled for opening in 2022.

St James Quarter recruitment programme is currently hiring for hundreds of roles ahead of the opening.

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