Edinburgh’s waterfront shopping centre, Ocean Terminal, will re-open on Monday 13 July, with measures in place to welcome back shoppers both warmly and safely.

Home to leading brands, including Superdry, French Connection, Waterstones and M&S Simply Food, the entire centre situated in the heart of Leith has undergone a deep clean before re-opening, with signage and directional walkways set up to help shoppers maintain social distancing throughout its spacious malls.

Hand sanitiser stations and a continuous cleaning operation have been established.

Customer service ‘ambassadors’ will also be available to help guide shoppers and offer reassurance.

In a phased re-opening to allow the 420,000 sq ft centre to get back to normal in a calm and well-managed way, the vast majority of stores including some food outlets will be open on 13 July, with leisure and restaurants following when safely able to do so.

Hairdressers Charlie Miller, opening on 15 July, will be operating a 12-hour day to accommodate all clients and will have a variety of measures in place within the salon to ensure the safety of both client and stylist.

The Royal Yacht Britannia will re-open on Monday 27^th July with an online booking system. Hygiene measures will be of a royal standard, allowing the whole family to create treasured memories together exploring the five decks of the ship.

Inline with government guidelines the centre’s leisure facilities, the Farmer’s Market and Car Boot Sale will all open in the next few weeks.

As additional businesses reopen, customers will be kept up to date via the centre’s social channels and website.

Michelle MacLeod said:

“We have had amazing support from our stores and the local community over the lockdown and it is our intention that we re-open in a calm but thorough, well-thought out way to keep our shoppers and our colleagues safe. We have the advantage of having a great deal of space at Ocean Terminal, and if customers are anxious, we will have staff trained to help.

“We have been liaising closely with all our stores, cafes, restaurants and attractions and we’re confident that all our customers will receive a warm and safe welcome back. It is certainly good to feel that some normality is returning, and we have worked hard to ensure the re-opening is done in the right way to protect our community.”

Ocean Terminal was recently acquired by ICG Real Estate and its Scottish partner Ambassador Group, who have pledged to invest £10m in upgrades and developments at the centre.  Taking a community focused approach to meeting the needs of the expanding residential and commercial areas across Leith, new plans include the introduction of residential, office and amenity space.