Salmon Harvester Opportunity Fund (SHOF), Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership, Worcester City Council and Worcestershire County Council have celebrated the opening of Cathedral Square in Worcester.
The £20million scheme, which has welcomed big name brands such as H&M, Cosy Club, All Bar One, Byron Hamburgers, Miller and Carter, Fitness4Less, Yo Sushi!, Kung Fu, Starbucks and Wilko, was officially declared open by the Mayor of Worcester Councillor Steve Mackay, followed by a day packed with entertainment and fun for all ages.
Tenants have been busy fitting out over the last few months and visitors were delighted with the new shops, restaurants and wonderful new square and piazza overlooking the Cathedral.
The day included:
- Opening speeches (SHOF, the Mayor and blessing of the square by the Dean of Worcester Cathedral)
- Ringing of the Cathedral bells
- Entertainment from the Lay Clerks, Three Choirs Festival
- Lesley Waters Cookery Demonstrations
- All Bar One Cocktail Demonstration
- Great Worcester Bake-off competition
- Salvage Cinema film showing of Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone in the new look square
Nick Webb of SHOF commented, “This opening is the culmination of years of hard work by Worcester City and Worcestershire County Councils and ourselves, to bring something new and exciting to Worcester. It is wonderful to see local people enjoying the space and facilities Cathedral Square now offers.”
Matthew Meaden of SHOF added, “This redevelopment brings 10,000 sq m of floor space back into use, redefines the retail and leisure pitch in Worcester and brings much needed regeneration to this part of the city centre. We have brought some big name brands to the city, by providing the right size and quality of unit in the heart of Worcester.”
The Mayor of Worcester, Cllr Steve Mackay said: “Cathedral Square is a fantastic new asset for the prosperous city of Worcester, and the City Council is proud to have invested in it. The Square, which has created many new jobs, will help to draw more visitors and shoppers to Worcester. I would urge local people to come on down and experience everything it has to offer for themselves.”
Cllr Ken Pollock, Cabinet Member with responsibility for Economy and Infrastructure at Worcestershire County Council, said: “This development has transformed the Cathedral area of the city. The new shops and restaurants will be a welcome addition for residents and visitors alike.
“It will also benefit existing businesses in Worcester and encourage more to open as Cathedral Square will boost the overall footfall. This is a project that will not only build civic pride among residents, but also encourage visitors to Worcestershire to enjoy more of the new shops and the Cathedral itself just opposite.”
Des O’Neill, Managing Director at Speller Metcalfe, the main contractor for the project, said, “Cathedral Square is an example of the project team’s commitment to delivering the very best in retail and leisure facilities for both the general public and visitors to Worcester. Speller Metcalfe has been proud to be associated with such an exciting development, which has provided employment for local sub-contractors and suppliers across the county, as well as new tenants.
“It has been a challenging project given its central location and tight footprint, but with the support of our colleagues and neighboring businesses we have created a fantastic addition to the city.”
Cathedral Square includes a new public square, jointly funded by Worcestershire County Council, Worcester City Council and the Worcestershire LEP. It provides a new space for public events and for residents, visitors and shoppers to dine and relax, overlooking Worcester Cathedral. The first phase of the project, completed back in Winter 2016, also included the realignment of the adjacent highway by Worcestershire County Council to more effectively link the new public square, city centre, the Cathedral and the Riverside.
For more information, visit the Cathedral Square website.
Pictured: The opening of Worcester’s Cathedral Square coincided with the opening of The Commandery’s new English Civil War exhibition.