Gloucester Quays is open
It has taken 10 years, but at long last the Gloucester Quays Designer Outlet has welcomed its first customers.
More than 15,000 people turned out for the opening day and judging by the number of crowds and carrier bags the centre has lived up to its hype.
Marble floors and polished glass greeted the eager visitors who began arriving well before the shops started trading.
Their verdict was all the same – the city can truly be proud of its new landmark.
For Lindsey Ashworth, Peel Holdings development director, it is the culmination of a massive £400million project.
He said: "It was 1999 when I started this scheme and at the time I didn't think it was possible.
"Over the last 12 months it has never ceased to amaze me how good it looks.
"It will be a turning point for the future of Gloucester. It will become the epicentre for shopping and leisure."
To mark the opening, street performers entertained young and old alike and up high gymnasts performed death-defying stunts from ropes suspended from the state-of-the-art gull wing roof.
But the shopping was the main attraction with flagship stores Marks & Spencer, Next and Gap sitting alongside specialist names such as Regatta and Wonderbra.
Families and gaggles of young friends laden with bags milled through the main mall all day before it closed at 8pm.
The Quays' two food centres Costa coffee shop and Pasty Presto reported roaring trade from the off.
For Doreen Morse, from Tuffley, it was an emotional moment.
She has fond memories of the site which now holds the Quays.
"It used to be the Gloucester Carpet Company," she said. "I worked there for 19 years. I can't believe this, it is amazing.
"This used to be a warehouse, I am so shocked."
Work was being carried out until the last moment to get the site ready and bosses pulled out all the stops to make sure the mall looked its very best for the opening.
Joint owners and creators of the centre, Peel and British Waterways, said they were delighted to see 40 stores opening, with another 16 set to follow in the coming weeks.
But despite it not being full to capacity shoppers still gave a firm thumbs up to the development.
Sally Turner and partner Mick Brown, from Gloucester, were enjoying a trip to the Quays with 10-month-old daughter Ella. They had walked along to the centre.
Sally said they were delighted with how the centre looked, having seen the site through each stage of the development.
"We are really pleased to see it open," she said. "We were looking forward to it opening. It is just what Gloucester needed."
Mick, who is originally from Swindon, said the Quays knocked spots off its outlet village.
He said: "This is much better, its very classy."
Cheryl Kanonick and Selina Scott were also impressed with the shops on offer and, like many customers, vowed to return to bag the odd bargain or two.
Selina said: "It definitely has the wow factor and it was rammed this morning."
"I will be coming back to do some shopping."
As the shoppers began their missions to bag themselves a bargain, civic leaders looked on from the mall's upper level toasting the future of Gloucester's newest tourist attraction.
Mark Owen, chairman of the Federation of Small Businesses and Marketing Gloucester, said it was great for the city.
He said: "Gloucester will become a shopping destination for the whole south west.
"For too long we have lived in the shadow of other towns and cities and at long last Gloucester has something to be truly proud of.
"I don't believe the city centre has anything to fear, they should look at this as a fantastic opportunity to attract new business."
Centre director Franco Muccini said the Quays offered something which would compliment the city centre.
"We all agree Gloucester is in need of regeneration especially around the Docks and without a doubt we will put Gloucester on the map.
"We are in the embryonic stage and this is the taste of things to come."
HEAVING: This was the scene at noon yesterday.
Comment on this story