Eastgate Shopping Centre in Inverness undergoes £8.5m transformation

A shopping centre in the Highlands has been transformed following £8.5m worth of investment.

The money has been invested by landlords and tenants to enhance the Eastgate in Inverness over the last two years.

From the launch of Inverness-first brands like Lovisa, Sugar in the City, and Maemes, to the new community-inspired Scran Kitchen, the centre has become a hub for both national names and local flavour.

In addition to the new stores, Pandora has upsized and relocated to a new unit opposite HMV, and RBS has moved to its flagship unit on Falcon Square.

There will also soon be an upsize and relocation for Hotel Chocolat, the former taking a combination of the old RBS and current Hotel Chocolat units.

Alongside considerable investment from the landlords, many tenants have similarly invested in their units, with shop refits undertaken by Chisholm Hunter, Vision Express, H.Samuel, Costa and Pizza Express, with Timpson’s and Starbucks also planning refits in the next few months.

A further set of retailers, including HMV, Card Factory, Body Shop, Clintons, Next, and Quiz, have recently re-committed to Eastgate.

Eastgate has also benefited from further investment, both in upgraded car parking technology and in a switch to LED lighting to support the mall’s commitment to reducing its carbon footprint.

Mark Hewett, director at Scoop Asset Management, said: “This programme of investment highlights the scale of our ambition for Eastgate and our confidence in Inverness as a vibrant retail and community destination.

“These upgrades not only improve the overall experience for shoppers, which is reflected in increased footfall in 2023/2024, but also the strength of our relationships with retailers and the commitment to continual improvement across the centre.”