Princess Royal to open Liverpool One second phase

Sep 23 2008 Neil Hodgson

Princess Royal 320

THE Princess Royal will officially open the second phase of the £1bn Liverpool One retail centre next week.

She will follow in the footsteps of her parents, the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, who attended the topping-out ceremony of the first phase on May 22, a week before it opened to the public.

It will also be a swift return to Merseyside for Princess Anne after she officially opened the Liverpool university’s Victoria gallery and museum on May 28.

Princess Anne will perform the official grand opening of Europe’s biggest retail development on Chavasse Park at 12pm on Wednesday October 1.

A wide range of shops, including flagship stores for Debenhams and John Lewis, featured in the first phase opening four months ago.

But next week’s ceremony will unveil a new 14-screen Odeon cinema and a leisure terrace boasting trendy restaurants and bars overlooking the five-acre Chavasse Park, which was rebuilt over a three-storey underground car park containing 2,500 car spaces.

Liverpool One bosses are promising a day of celebrations for the public and shoppers, including street artists, musicians, acrobats and children’s entertainers.

After darkness falls, the entertainment will culminate in a 10pm firework finale.

Liverpool One chief executive Joanne Jennings said: “The Liverpool One event is one of the big events of the year.

“We have booked some of the top entertainment acts in the world to help us make history as this fabulous £1bn project welcomes visitors from far and wide.”