Taking the Metquarter forward• The Story So Far: 60% of floor space let, solicitors’ instructed or in final negotiation
• New Met Quarter Tenants
• Creativity at Met Quarter
• The Met Quarter Brands
The Story So Far
Created by Milligan, the Met Quarter, which has a capital value of £75 million, will be a dynamic and inspiring new retail space for Liverpool city centre; a trail blazing environment that will bring flagship stores, new brands and a unique shopping experience to this rapidly regenerating city.
With 60% of floor space now signed or in final negotiations, Milligan is delighted to announce the tenant line-up for the Met Quarter, its dynamic retail scheme currently under construction in Liverpool city centre.
The Met Quarter is scheduled to open in February 2006.
New Met Quarter Tenants
The signing of Armani, Flannels and Hugo Boss as tenants of Met Quarter has been announced previously. Milligan is now delighted to announce the following further brands as Met Quarter tenants:
Signed –
Hobbs
Mikey
Aspecto
All Saints
Sassoon Studio
Solicitors Instructed – among others :
Coast
Whistles
Gieves & Hawkes
Café Rouge
Bailey
Timberland
Animal
Further new tenant signings will be announced throughout 2005.
The Met Quarter is designed in the manner of a modern, lifestyle centre with 46 retail units. The maturity and elegance of the architectural character offers a sense of calm confidence; the innovative use of natural materials lends a sense of gravitas. Yet the soul of the scheme is one of a vibrant, exciting personality in fashion. The integration of the legacy of the Old Post Office façade with a very modern, elegant new façade lends a sense of urban regard. The very simple space within – a gallery of contemporary fashion – is designed as a singular room.
Creativity at Met Quarter
The Milligan team is working closely with Turner prize contender, Mel Chantrey as well as regional artists and universities to design and integrate bespoke, individual artistic installations into this space. By working from the beginning with the City and the University in the creation of illustrations for the site hoardings, the development team has engaged with the creative enthusiasms of the community. The design of the 75-metre metal ceiling, one of the largest suspended sculptures in the world, as well as the bespoke seating and furnishings and unique 9-metre lanterns are examples of integrated art and craft that are designed by the hand of artisans of the region. Milligan will this autumn engage students from regional universities in competitive efforts for the creation of additional signature installations.
The Met Quarter will become synonymous with the finest design, art and craft of the region – as well as being known as offering one of the most unique collections of fashion the City of Liverpool will have seen for years.
The Met Quarter Brands
The Met Quarter brands represent a diverse mix of independent and prestige retailers, many of which will be available for the first time in Liverpool.
Flannels
The Met Quarter is being anchored by Flannels, the prestigious designer retailer that is a favourite of high fashion fans who visit its stores in Manchester, Leeds and Birmingham. The Met Quarter store will continue to offer the understated elegance and measured style that has made Flannels an esteemed and established name.
Flannels will turn shopping in Liverpool into an artform, offering an exclusive product mix that combines current trends with timeless pieces from luxury brands and designer collections to create a unique shopping experience across 17,000 square feet of trading space.
All Saints
All Saints offers a unique and dramatic take on British high street fashion. Eschewing catwalk copycats, All Saints instead chooses to pursue new directions, offering fashion for men and ladies that is sometimes edgy, sometimes elegant and sometimes both at the same time. The 4,000 sq ft All Saints store will be the first time All Saints has been available in Liverpool.
Animal
Animal was originally conceived by two surfers who designed and developed a watch able to cope with extreme sport; from this start, Animal has grown to become an internationally respected design-led sports brand. With a particular focus on a core of extreme sports including snowboarding, mountain biking and surfing, Animal is one of the UK’s fastest growing sports brands.
Armani
Armani is taking a 6, 250 sq ft double level store with Whitechapel frontage. Armani offers a unique fashion experience overseen by the undisputed king of Italian fashion and this will be the first Armani store in Liverpool. The store will bring a new and unique fashion experience to Liverpool City Centre.
Aspecto
With nine stores across the country, Aspecto is an independent fashion and footwear retail chain that sells the finest urban brands for the most stylish people. With stores in cities including Manchester and Leeds the arrival of a 2,000 sq ft Aspecto store will, again, be a first for Liverpool.
Bailey
Headed by Chris Bailey, one of the most influential people in UK fashion retail, Bailey will bring a unique new menswear concept to Liverpool. The Bailey store at the Met Quarter will be the first outside London and will offer Liverpool men a distinctive style experience.
Café Rouge
Offering a combination of delicious food, great wines and a real ambience, Café Rouge has embodied the style and je ne sais quoi of European dining since it opened back in 1989. Now with over 80 sites across the country it's just the place to mull over the morning papers with a cafe au lait and a croissant, pop in for a spot of lunch, share a post-work drink or relax over an evening meal.
Costa Coffee
In 1971, Italian brothers Sergio and Bruno Costa started a wholesale operation supplying roasted coffee to caterers and specialist Italian coffee shops. Drawing on their Italian background and Sergio's experience of blending and roasting coffee, the brothers established Costa's unique roasting style that is the mainstay of a business that is now owned by Whitbread and today has over 300 stores throughout the UK.
Coast
Coast is a niche brand that provides women with beautifully designed, quality clothing for special occasions. Every Coast garment is exclusively designed in-house and takes inspiration from a number of different sources whilst also looking closely at current fashion trends. Coast has recently introduced a new store concept that aims to provide an overall shopping experience that reflects the brand’s sense of occasion.
Hobbs
The award winning retailer Hobbs (Drapers Awards Best Smaller Fashion Multiple) has grown into one of the most successful names on the high street with over sixty outlets throughout the United Kingdom and Ireland. Taking 3,500 sq ft, Hobbs offers discerning women high quality, stylish clothes, shoes and accessories to that are both contemporary and quintessentially English.
Hugo Boss
Hugo Boss is a respected high fashion retailer that offers exciting fashion for men across a range of brands that each carries a distinctive flavour, from the radical youthful stylings of Hugo, to the sumptuous fabrics and tailoring of Hugo Boss Black. Again, this 7,000 sq ft store will be the first Liverpool store for Hugo Boss.
Mikey
In 1,200 sq ft Mikey will offer jewellery for pop stars, party girls and professional women. Selling its own range of jewellery, Mikey makes available jewellery trends and classic items including rings, earrings and bracelets.
Timberland
Specialising in its own distinctive form of rugged craftsmanship, Timberland is an internationally recognised brand that is a benchmark of quality and durability. Timberland prides itself on the integrity of its approach to producing and selling the kind of timeless all-weather, all terrain gear that is beyond fashion. Timberland will be taking nearly 3,000 sq ft.
Sassoon Studio
The man who invented the hairdresser as superstar, Vidal Sassoon will bring 40 years of innovative hair ideas and experience to Liverpool. As a city that prides itself on looking good, Liverpool will be sure to take to its heart this innovative and high quality salon that has maintained a position on the cutting edge.
Whistles
The first Whistles store in Liverpool will offer the women of the city access to the high-fashion seasonal collections that are offered in Whistles stores across the UK. Whistles provides a wardrobe solution that references trends while retaining a unique brand signature.