Liverpool's new shopping complex has opened its doors to thousands of big spenders... including top WAG Alex Curran.
The £1bn Liverpool One scheme has been seven years in the making and the unveiling is being described as one of the most important days in the city’s history.
Eager consumers piled in for the grand opening, which saw dancers, acrobats and stilt walkers entertaining the crowds before the gates were opened at the 42-acre site.
The retail mecca has already had its first celebrity endorsement from the city's most famous VIP shopper, Alex Curran.
The stunning WAG is an expert in retail therapy and declared herself delighted with the new facilities - especially the fashion stores.
Wife of England hero Steven Gerrard, Alex said: "It's fantastic the city has got this development.
"Liverpool is a wonderful place and deserves this reward.
"Everyone knows I love shopping and I am so excited about this boost to the retail district.
"I cannot wait to spend a full day checking it all out."
Council leader Warren Bradley was as proud as Punch.
Cllr Bradley said: "It's one of the highlights not only of the year but of Liverpool’s history.
"A whole part of the city centre is being reborn and re-juvenated.
"It is something Liverpool has wanted for decades.
"The opening is one of my proudest achievements as leader of the council."
Liverpool One's first 40 stores are now open and the remaining 120 will be completed by the end of September.
The project is expected to catapult Liverpool from 15th to 5th in the UK’s retail market league table, and has created 5,000 jobs.
Chief executive of Liverpool One, Joanne Jennings, said:"We have finally given the streets of Liverpool back to city after years of keeping them behind building sites and scaffolding.
"The anticipation of today has been coming for many years, but this is only the first phase opening of Liverpool One and reconnecting the city back to the waterfront.
"The summer will culminate in a grand opening on September 30 that will bring 160 units spaced over 1.4m sq ft of retail which will deliver a shopping experience few cities can match."
The development includes 160 shops plus cafes, restaurants, bars, 600 apartments, a cinema and a five acre car park.
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