10.08.09

Public open day Sunday 23rd August -

With the autumn 2009 opening of Union Square just around the corner, Hammerson is inviting Aberdeen shoppers and local residents to take a look behind the scenes at the city's newest and largest retail and leisure development.

On Sunday 23rd August, the 700,000sq ft site will be open to the public for a sneak preview. Visitors will get a behind the scenes tour of the development, sample the culinary delights from an exciting new eatery to Aberdeen and explore the spaces that will soon become home to some of the UK's best known retailers.

Geisha girls will be serving YO! Sushi treats from the famous sushi conveyor belt and YO! Sushi chefs will wow the audience with their impressive sushi - demonstrations. Aberdeen's biggest multi-screen cinema, Cineworld, will be treating everyone to free popcorn and will be running a competition to give two lucky winners unlimited passes to the cinema complex for a year. They will also be giving a sneak preview of their opening films, while Jurys Inn will be giving a taster of what their contemporary bedrooms will look like.

Penny Godfrey, marketing manager for Hammerson's Union Square development said: "Public open day is an exciting, one-off chance for people to get a sneak preview of Scotland's newest and largest retail and leisure development before it opens this autumn. We are very much looking forward to public open day and inviting people to find out what's been going on behind the hoardings and to get a feel for what's to come."

My Ly, Marketing Manager for YO! Sushi added: "As our eagerly anticipated restaurant launch grows closer, we are delighted to provide a sneak preview of the unique YO! Sushi experience at Union Square's Public Open Day.

"We passionately believe in providing great tasting Japanese inspired food and feel the restaurant will be a fantastic addition to Aberdeen's shopping heaven."

Tours will be taking place between 10:30 and 16:00. Visitors are advised to wear sensible shoes.

For more information, visit www.unionsquareaberdeen.com

ENDS

For more information contact Kirsty Grant or Hannah Murray at Trimedia
Tel: 0131 226 2363
Email: firstname.secondname@trimediauk.com

Notes to Editor

Union Square

• Union Square is a £275 million mixed use, regeneration scheme creating a new retail and leisure quarter for Aberdeen. Developed by Hammerson, the scheme includes 56 retail units, comprising a range of national and international brands, up to 12 restaurants and cafés, a 203 bed hotel and 10 screen multiplex, set to be Aberdeen's largest cinema. The scheme will also provide visitors with a new civic square. Union Square will be Aberdeen's most accessible retail and leisure offer with 1,700 car parking spaces, easily reached from all major routes and integrated with the city's bus and rail stations - providing a gateway to the region and encouraging sustainable travel to the city.
• www.unionsquareaberdeen.com

Hammerson plc

• Hammerson plc is a FTSE-100 Real Estate Investment Trust which operates principally in the retail sector in the UK and France. Its £4.7 billion portfolio, which provides 1.3 million m² of retail space and 255,000 m² of offices, includes 14 major shopping centres and 19 retail parks.
• Hammerson has a track record of successfully delivering major city centre regeneration projects. Award-winning developments include Bishops Square in London and Bullring in Birmingham. In September 2008 the Company opened three major retail-led developments: Highcross, Leicester; Cabot Circus, Bristol and an extension to Parinor, an existing centre in Paris. This autumn, Hammerson will open its latest retail-led regeneration scheme, Union Square in Aberdeen.
• The Company is currently working with several councils across the UK to deliver retail-led mixed-use projects in cities including Leeds, Southampton and Sheffield.
• For more information, visit www.hammerson.com.