Welcome to Liverpool One

May 29 2008 by David Bartlett, Liverpool Daily Post

Liverpool One shopping development open to the public _320

Longest catwalk heralds opening

THE world’s longest cat-walk will herald the opening of Liverpool One today.

Organisers are promising a day to remember for the long-awaited unveiling of the £1bn scheme.

Kicking off at 10am dignitaries will deliver speeches at the Lord Street entrance of South John Street, followed by the all-important street opening, pyrotechnics and an acrobatic show to reveal the view down South John Street – the main artery that links the new Debenhams to John Lewis.

Themed as a “Theatre of Fashion”, a day-long event will transform South John Street into a high fashion catwalk with models exhib-iting many clothing brands.

Retailers involved in-clude Aldo, All Saints, Debenhams, Esprit, Jane Norman, JD Sports, John Lewis, La Senza, Liverpool FC, Monsoon, New Look, Oasis, Office, Peacocks, Principles, Republic, Suits You, Warehouse and Zara.

Models will hit the red carpet catwalk at 10.30am, 1pm, 3pm, 4pm and 6pm.

There will be a series of ambient acts between 10am and 8pm, including stilt walkers, aerial artists and street dancers and a specially installed music stage. Two World-class artists – a Cirque Du Soleil performer and a champion B Boy Dancer have also been booked.

Aquatic-themed walka-bout acts will parade in celebration of the recon-nection of the city and bet-ween midday and 6pm local schools will take part in a hat parade and choreo-graphed dance shows.

Joanne Jennings, chief executive of Liverpool One said: “After years of design and building work we can throw down many of the fences around Liverpool One and let people know exactly what we’ve been doing. I hope that it will give them a better idea of what we will have achieved by the grand launch of Phase 2 on September 30.”

davidbartlett@dailypost.co.uk