Cycle celebs drop in
Scores of celebrity fans braved freezing temperatures at Gretna Gateway Outlet Village on Tuesday 2nd March to cheer on their idols.
But they were not left disappointed as they mingled with Little Britain star David Walliams and DJ Fearne Cotton, who were both happy to pose for photographs and sign autographs during a break from their gruelling charity cycle challenge.
For Walliams, who swam the English Channel in aid of Sports Relief four years ago, has enlisted Cotton, fellow comedian Jimmy Carr, television personality Patrick Kielty, comedy writer Miranda Hart, Big Brother host Davina McCall and stand up comic Russell Howard to join him on the BT Sport Relief Million Pound Bike Ride – which saw them depart from John O’Groats on Monday morning with the intention of reaching Land’s End four days later.
But it was Mock the Week panellist Russell Howard who received a raucous reception in the border town after completing a mammoth 34-mile stint between Moffat and Gretna, which took him via Lochmaben and Annan.
And then it was over to Hart to tackle the next stretch as she took to the saddle in spine-tingling minus 4C conditions.
Joking with the crowds, presenter Fearne Cotton said the cycle had been even tougher than her Mount Kilimanjaro climb last year.
She added: “Athletically, I’ve never done anything like this; it feels harder than the Kili climb in that respect.
“We are over half way now but we are behind schedule so we all really need to kick on”.
Meanwhile, nearly 30 members of staff at the shopping centre donned their trainers to raise money for the cause.
Some ran, others walked and there was even an egg and spoon race and four-legged combo – all which raised more than £1200 on the night.
General Manager Peter Gardner said: “It’s good fun in aid of a good cause and we’ve met and mingled with the stars. It all seemed to be going well for them too.”
5th March 2010
Landmark web launch
A dream of an innovative landmark being erected on the Scottish border took a step closer to reality this week with the launch of a new informative website.And the dedicated site, which went live at the weekend, has already stimulated interest from a number of artists across the country.
Followers can now log on to www.gretnalandmark.com to find out more about the behind-the-scenes work and the people that have been involved in the project so far.
Dumfries and Galloway Arts Association’s public art manager Jan Hogarth, who is one of the key figures behind the project, explained: “We want to show the process that the project is using. Normally artists design things and they are dropped into a site but we feel that it is not very responsible”.“And because the artists that are helping to take the project forward live in Dumfries and Galloway we want to communicate the ideas behind the design work before they happen and also to stimulate support for the project in terms of investment in the construction stage of the project”.The website launch comes only weeks after it was revealed that two of the most respected artists in the world will be taking forward the Gretna Landmark.
Leading landscape architect Charles Jencks will over see the landscape and engineering design on the site bordering the A74M motorway and River Sark while sculptor Andy Goldsworthy will create a boundary walk between Gretna and Canonbie.
Meanwhile, an art structure, dubbed The Great Unknown, will also be incorporated into the landscape, possibly with moving parts powered by wind or water.
May 2010
Friends raise £3660
Charitable members of Annan and District Group of Friends presented a staggering £3660 to Cancer Research UK this week.
The group raised the generous amount through a number of fundraising events accross the area including Canonbie Flower Show and a can collection at Gretna Gateway Outlet Village.
Group Chairman Stuart Thompson said: "We have worked together over a long time to raise £92,500 and we hope that this year the community will join with us to help us reach our target amount of £100,000 for this wonderful charity."
And treasurer Gillian Lamont added: " We want to support Cancer Research UK because we all know someone who has been affected by cancer. Our events, which are a great success, are a great way to have fun and help a really important cause.
Rowan Main, Cancer Reasearch UK's area volunteer manager, said the donation will help to fund vital research scientists, doctors and nurses across Scotland who are all looking for new ways to beat the disease.
She added: "The vital research would not be possible without the support of people like the people from Gretna, Annan and the surrounding areas.
"I hope that the wonderful people of Annan and Gretna will help Stuart, Gillian and secretary Pat Jardine reach their target of £100,000."
May 2010
PEPPA PIG CHARMS THE GRETNA GATEWAY CROWDS
Gretna Gateway had one of its busiest days ever recently when the outlet village had a special visit from children’s favourite, Peppa Pig.
Thousands of shoppers flocked to see the popular television character as she held a number of “meet and greet” sessions on Easter Sunday.
Gretna Gateway marketing assistant, Lisa McNab said; “We had a tremendous response to Peppa Pig’s VIP visit and she was a huge hit with families visiting the outlet village.
We were really delighted that we were able to provide such a popular attraction and help to make the occasion a great family day out.”
Gretna Gateway is open seven days a week from 10am until 6pm.
Gretna Gateway welcomes even more new stores and over 60 job opportunities.
On top of the six new stores that opened in October...Gap, Urban, Double Two, Denby, Lakeland Fine Leather, and Arran Aromatics, 3 more new stores opened in time for Christmas - Ponden Home, Trespass and the Whisky Shop.
Collectively these new stores bring over sixty jobs to the local community. And with roughly 400 people now working at Gretna Gateway Outlet Village, we are one of the area's biggest employers, and have had lots to celebrate in this our 10th anniversary year.
Record numbers of visitors
Gretna Gateway Outlet Village has proved to be a really popular shopping destination with more and more visitors every year. All-year-round value has become increasingly important to shoppers, who need to know they are getting the most for their money. With big reductions off big brands every day we are pleased that Gretna Gateway seems to be giving customers just what they want during a recession.
Many families are holidaying at home this year and taking advantage of the Outlet Village's prime location just off the motorway on the Scottish-English border. This strategic site attracts significant drive-by traffic travelling to or from Scotland, Northern Ireland and other key holiday destinations including the Lake District and Hadrian's Wall country.
Gretna Gateway general manager, Peter Gardner said; "We're obviously delighted that some of the High Street's biggest names have decided to locate their latest outlet stores here, adding nine great new shopping opportunities for our growing customer base. Despite the recession, 2009 has seen an impressive increase in both visitor numbers and sales to date, and these latest additions will further widen our appeal to both existing and potential shoppers. We were also delighted to receive planning permission to extend the outlet village by a further 15,000 sq ft - a move that will bring additional much-needed jobs to the area in the coming years."
Border store staff in charity challenge
Fundraising continues for M&S' biggest ever local charity fundraising campaign as employees across the UK pledge their support to raise £1.25 million in 125 days for local community charities as part of the retailer's 125th anniversary celebrations.
M&S employees in Gretna's Outlet have now chosen the local charity that they will be fundraising for over the coming months. The Gretna store is committed to raising £1500 for Gretna Day Centre for the re-decoration of their dining room.
Fundraising teams from each of the M&S stores in Scotland will be leading their colleagues in a host of activities to raise as much money as possible for each of the local charities they are supporting. The Gretna store took part in a fun day where staff dressed in pyjamas for the day and held a car boot sale and cake bake. The M&S outlet will also be taking part in a fun weekend at the Gretna Gateway Outlet Village on July 25 and 26 and will be donating profits generated from the fun weekend to Gretna Day Centre. Store staff will be assisting at the bouncy castle, with face painters and holding a tombola with prizes donated by local businesses.
More and more popular every day!
Easter shoppers flocked to Gretna Gateway Outlet Village in record numbers over the Easter holidays. News of our outstanding offers and unbeatable prices must be spreading with 30% more visitors than last year and record-breaking sales figures.
M & S Outlet extension now fully open.
Marks & Spencer Outlet have now completed and fully opened their store extension at Gretna Gateway, and having increased their sales area by over 25% they can now extend some existing product ranges and introduce others they have not been able to hold previously, which is great news for everyone.
Gretna Gateway General Manager Peter Gardner said "This is great news for M&S, for us, and for all of our customers. M&S recognise that there is still untapped potential for them here and this extension (which coincides with a lease extension too) will allow them to make the most of this in the months and years ahead. We look forward to an even longer and even more successful future with M&S at Gretna Gateway."
£10,000 Gretna Gateway Windfall
Farmers Wife, Helen Abbott from Scaleby near Carlisle was celebrating this week as she picked up a cheque for £10,000 courtesy of Gretna Gateway Outlet Village.