Hotel Chocolat and Russell & Bromley among seven new brands to sign up for Edinburgh St James shopping centre

Luxury and budget brands have been announced by the development.

A luxury footwear and handbag retailer, a sportswear retailer and a watch boutique will all open stores in the new St James Centre later this year.

Developers announced eight new tenants, alongside seven already revealed such as H&M which the Evening News revealed exclusively would have a new store in the centre yesterday (Wednesday).

Among the shops going into the St James Centre are luxury British footwear and handbag retailer Russell & Bromley, which will open a 2,500 sq ft store on the third level of the centre.

More brands have been announced in the new St James Centre

Sitting next to the previously announced Mango store, sportswear retailers JD Sports will open a new 11,000 sq ft store.

Goldsmiths the jewellers will also open a 1,700 sq ft store on level two with a co-branded Breitling and Omega boutique immediately next door.

Also on level two, international jewellery manufacturers Pandora, chocolate shop Hotel Chocolat, and eyewear specialists Sunglass Hut, part of the Italian Luxottica Group, will open stores.

Last week, restaurant brands Yo! Sushi, Five Guys and @pizza were also revealed as new tenants in the St James Centre.

More brands have been announced in the new St James Centre

While Yo! Sushi will open its third location, alongside its restaurants in Princes Street and Edinburgh Airport, in St James Centre, however the future of existing restaurants owned by Five Guys and @pizza are unclear.

Other brands confirmed for the centre include Next, H&M, & Other Stories, New Look, Miele, Hackett, Mango, Bershka, Stradivarius, Pull&Bear, The Alchemist, and an expanded John Lewis.

Boots, O2, Superdrug, Three, The Perfume Shop and a Halifax Bank of Scotland will also have space in the new development.

They will sit alongside an Everyman Cinema, a W Hotel, a Roomzzz Aparthotel and several residential flats.

More brands have been announced in the new St James Centre

The £1 billion centre due to open in October 2020 will host 85 shops, 30 restaurant, two hotels and a cinema.

When the centre opens its doors in October 2020, it will account for more than a fifth of all retail in the city.

Chris Pyne, leasing director at Edinburgh St James, said: “Our vision is to secure brands new to the city and Scotland, and significantly larger stores showcasing the most comprehensive product ranges available, within the very best of retail design and innovation.”

Andrew Bromley, Russell & Bromley chief executive, added: “Edinburgh St James represents the future of retail in Edinburgh, combining a unique blend of experiences with the character and appeal of one of the leading cities in Europe.

"We are delighted to have secured this space for a new Russell & Bromley store in Scotland in this exciting and highly relevant development.”