Dazzling light show marks one week countdown to St James Quarter opening

Spectacular light show marks one week countdown to St James Quarter openingSpectacular light show marks one week countdown to St James Quarter opening
Spectacular light show marks one week countdown to St James Quarter opening
Edinburgh’s skyline dazzled with a special light show to mark one week to go until St James Quarter officially opens its doors.

Let us know what you think and join the conversation at the bottom of this article

The ribbon hotel and some of the Capital’s most famous landmarks were illuminated in the display to welcome the city’s largest development in a generation.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

From the Balmoral and Edinburgh Castle, to Forth Ports and the EICC, the whole of the night sky was illuminated as the seven day countdown kicked off for St James Quarter’s’ much-anticipated phase one opening.

The skyline was illuminated to mark the seven day countdownThe skyline was illuminated to mark the seven day countdown
The skyline was illuminated to mark the seven day countdown

Inspired by the spirit of Arthur’s Seat and the meeting of tectonic plates, developers said the light show was a nod to ‘the awakening’ of St James Quarter, after five years of development.

Over 500 light fixtures were placed around the ribbon building with accompanying projections and a soundtrack featuring local sound designer, Keith Fortune.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Mick Hay from The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo took centre stage, 55m meters from the ground, conducting the soundtrack with the unmistakable sounds of the drums, as lasers of light travelled across the city in all directions.

St James Quarter is set to become a hub for art, culture, and fashion. The new 1.7 million sq ft centre will be home to John Lewis, Everyman Cinema, a mix of new restaurants, cafés and bars, Scotland’s first W Hotel – W Edinburgh and a luxury aparthotel.

Through partnerships with Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Edinburgh Jazz & Blues and the Edinburgh Science Festivals – to name a few – the upcoming opening is set to complement the city’s world-renowned cultural offering and support its vibrant events calendar.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Rochelle Weir, Brand and Marketing Director at St James Quarter, said: “As we near the opening of phase one, the anticipation around the city is palpable. We wanted to bring this feeling to life, connecting with other landmarks, businesses, and partners across the city to mark our opening and cement our place on the iconic Edinburgh skyline.

“Our phase one opening is a significant moment in Edinburgh’s history, and we’re incredibly excited for the people of Edinburgh and beyond to see what lies behind the quarter. Last night’s display was just the beginning.”

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this article. We're more reliant on your support than ever as the shift in consumer habits brought about by coronavirus impacts our advertisers.

If you haven't already, please consider supporting our trusted, fact-checked journalism by taking out a digital subscription.

Comment Guidelines

National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.

News you can trust since 1873
Follow us
©National World Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved.Cookie SettingsTerms and ConditionsPrivacy notice