Cabot Circus, Bristol's long-awaited shopping and leisure destination, has opened to the public.

The opening of the £500 million scheme marks the completion of an eight year programme to deliver one of the largest retail-led city-centre urban regeneration projects in the UK, and is expected to propel Bristol into the UK's rankings of top ten retail destinations.

Developed by the Bristol Alliance, a partnership between two of the UK's leading property development companies, Land Securities and Hammerson, Cabot Circus comprises one million square feet of shopping and entertainment on a high profile gateway site on the M32 approach to Bristol.

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Designed by seven different firms to create architectural variety and a cosmopolitan streetscape atmosphere, Cabot Circus is seamlessly integrated into the city through a series of open streets and squares, and features a dramatic and innovative glazed roof above the scheme's principal open space.

Featuring 140 new shops, with some 75 retailers making their city centre trading debuts at Cabot Circus, the scheme is being credited as a core element in Bristol's transformation into a world-class shopping destination.

Bob De Barr, Bristol Alliance Project Director, said: "This is a very proud moment for the Bristol Alliance. The opening of Cabot Circus marks the culmination of years of preparation, involving many thousands of people, and represents the creation of an architecturally stunning new city quarter for Bristol.

"Cabot Circus has finally brought the range and quality of shopping which this city has long deserved."

(CD/JM)