Creatures in store as shopping centre bids to lure customers

EVERYONE knows shopping in Edinburgh can be a bit of a jungle, but bosses at the St James Centre will bringing in some real-life exotic creatures this weekend in a bid to attract customers during the tram work disruption.

A Vietnamese pot bellied pig, a royal python and a giant African millipede are among the animals and insects that will be on display at the shopping centre.

The events, being run under the banner Kids In the City at 17 different venues across the Capital this Sunday, is the first part of the Month of Sundays programme.

Other themes for later in the month include Makeover Sunday, VIP Sunday and Fashion vs Vintage Sunday.

The animals and insects are being loaned to the centre by the East Links Farm and Edinburgh Butterfly & Insect World.

Characters from the Edinburgh Dungeon will also be at the centre, while face painting, competitions and in-store product demonstrations at the Early Learning Centre will also be taking place throughout the day.

Rochelle Weir, St James Centre general manager, said: "We are a major supporter of the Open for Business campaign, to promote Edinburgh's shops, businesses and attractions during the tram works.

"The activities will provide fun for the whole family and reflects our commitment to boosting the footfall in the city centre as work continues on the tram network."

Other venues taking part in this Sunday's events include Gusto on George Street, which is offering children the chance to be pizza chefs for the day, Harvey Nichols, which is offering free lollies and a competition to win £100 of kids clothing vouchers, and John Lewis, which has a children's musical group performing from 1pm-2pm.

Department store Jenners will be holding a Steiff teddy bear signing session in its Hamleys department, as well as giving children the opportunity to make popcorn, smoothies and decorate cookies.

Open for Business has already invested in new branding and marketing for the West End Village, supported The Leith Festival and Leith Walk and arranged the recent Spa in the City day.

Graham Birse, chairman of the Open For Business group and deputy chief executive of the Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce, said:

"One of the things that has been particularly good is how imaginative the ideas have been that businesses came up with.

"In a way, adversity can highlight that you are undervaluing an asset, and that asset in this case is the city centre."