Waverley Mall

Waverley Mall is a shopping centre in central Edinburgh, Scotland, occupying the site historically associated with Waverley Market. Its position is unusually prominent: the complex lies between Waverley Bridge, Princes Street, the Balmoral Hotel and Edinburgh Waverley railway station, making it both a retail destination and an important pedestrian link between the station and the city centre. The property combines high-street chain stores, independent retailers and food-and-drink operators in an enclosed, multi-level environment. The site's commercial history predates the present mall. Before Edinburgh's railway infrastructure was completed, a fruit and vegetable market operated beneath North Bridge. When the present Waverley station was built, that market moved to the current site in 1869. The market later concentrated on fruit, vegetables and flowers, and in 1874 received a large iron-and-steel roof designed and constructed by Hanna, Donald & Wilson. The roofed venue was suitable not only for trading but also for entertainment, including fairs, circuses, menageries and exhibitions. As vegetable trading shifted to warehouses in nearby Market Street during the 1950s, the lower level increasingly served as an events and exhibition space. The old market closed in November 1972 and the building was demolished in 1973. A purpose-built shopping centre replaced the market. Designed in the early 1980s, it was built with its roof at the level of Princes Street and incorporated a landscaped plaza intended to protect views toward Edinburgh Castle and the Old Town. The centre opened in November 1984 under the Waverley Market name and was officially opened by Queen Elizabeth II on 25 July 1985. Its original interior design emphasised planted atria, water features and a descent from Princes Street into an underground shopping level. The property went through several naming and design phases. A major refurbishment in the early 1990s accompanied the change to Waverley Shopping Centre. During this period, the main atrium featured a substantial water installation incorporating the 11-foot Herons Dream sculpture. That feature was removed in a further refurbishment in the early 2000s, when the centre adopted the Princes Mall name. The centre experienced a period of weaker performance in the early 2000s, including a point when 12 retail units were vacant. Later fashion lettings and improvements to the Waverley Steps, including new stairs, escalators, a glazed roof and lifts, supported better access between the station and the mall. Following a reported £4 million renovation, the centre was formally reopened and rebranded Waverley Mall in March 2016. In September 2021 it reverted to the Waverley Market name. Tradehold is identified as the current owner in the reference material. Edinburgh City Council has also approved a further redevelopment involving the rooftop area, intended to add approximately 3,000 square metres to the existing 8,000 square metres. The site's successive names reflect its changing retail strategy, while its continuing role is shaped by its transport interchange location, Edinburgh tourism and the broader Princes Street shopping environment.

The history of Waverley Mall is rooted in Edinburgh's former Waverley Market. A fruit and vegetable market originally operated beneath North Bridge, but the construction of Edinburgh's railway infrastructure led to its relocation in 1869 to the site now occupied by the shopping centre. The relocated market traded mainly in fruit, vegetables and flowers. In 1874 Hanna, Donald & Wilson provided it with a substantial iron-and-steel roof that rose to street level. The covered market became a flexible public venue, hosting commercial trading as well as fairs, circuses, menageries, exhibitions and other entertainment. By the 1950s, many vegetable traders had moved to warehouses in Market Street. The lower level of the market consequently became more important as an events space. The old market closed on 26 November 1972, and the market structure and roof were demolished the following year. The replacement shopping centre was designed in the early 1980s. Its roof was set at Princes Street level, with a landscaped plaza intended to maintain views from Princes Street toward Edinburgh Castle and Edinburgh's Old Town. The centre opened in November 1984 as Waverley Market and received its formal royal opening from Queen Elizabeth II on 25 July 1985. The early interior was characterised by planted atria, water features and escalators leading shoppers from Princes Street down to the underground plaza. A refurbishment in the early 1990s coincided with a change of name to Waverley Shopping Centre. The refreshed centre became known for a large atrium water feature incorporating the 11-foot Herons Dream sculpture. During another refurbishment in the early 2000s, the water feature was removed and the property was renamed Princes Mall. The centre later experienced declining popularity and substantial vacancy, with 12 units reported empty at one point. New fashion tenants and improvements to the nearby Waverley Steps helped strengthen the connection with Edinburgh Waverley station. Those access works included stairs, escalators, a glazed roof and lifts. A further renovation, reported to have cost £4 million, culminated in an official reopening and rebranding as Waverley Mall in March 2016. The property subsequently returned to the Waverley Market name in September 2021. Tradehold is identified as its owner. A council-approved redevelopment is planned for the rooftop, with the stated intention of creating roughly 3,000 additional square metres above the existing 8,000-square-metre centre. Across its successive forms, the property has remained a retail and pedestrian interchange at one of Edinburgh's most heavily connected central locations.

• 2021

  Name reverts to Waverley Market

  [1]Waverley Marketen.wikipedia.org

  The property returned to its historic Waverley Market name in September.

• 2016

  Renovated centre reopens as Waverley Mall

  [1]Waverley Marketen.wikipedia.org

  A reported £4 million renovation preceded the centre's March reopening and rebranding as Waverley Mall.

• 2000

  Princes Mall identity adopted

  [1]Waverley Marketen.wikipedia.org

  During refurbishment in the early 2000s, the centre removed its prominent water feature and adopted the Princes Mall name.

• 1990

  Name changes to Waverley Shopping Centre

  [1]Waverley Marketen.wikipedia.org

  A major refurbishment in the early 1990s accompanied the centre's first major post-opening name change.

• 1985

  Official opening

  [1]Waverley Marketen.wikipedia.org

  Queen Elizabeth II officially opened the shopping centre on 25 July.

• 1984

  Shopping centre opens

  [1]Waverley Marketen.wikipedia.org

  The replacement shopping centre opened in November as Waverley Market.

• 1973

  Original market demolished

  [1]Waverley Marketen.wikipedia.org

  The former Waverley Market building and roof were demolished.

• 1972

  Old market closes

  [1]Waverley Marketen.wikipedia.org

  The historic market closed on 26 November 1972.

• 1874

  Market receives its major roof

  [1]Waverley Marketen.wikipedia.org

  Hanna, Donald & Wilson completed the market's iron-and-steel roof, enabling broader trading and entertainment uses.

• 1869

  Market relocates to the Waverley site

  [1]Waverley Marketen.wikipedia.org

  A fruit and vegetable market moved to the site following the construction of Edinburgh Waverley railway station.

A centrally located Edinburgh shopping and dining destination combining national chains, independent retailers and transport-connected city-centre access.

• Fashion and general retail · 1984

  Retail units

  The centre provides space for a mixture of high-street chain stores and independent retailers. Its tenant offer has included fashion-led retail and other city-centre shopping categories, with later fashion lettings cited as part of the effort to improve the centre's performance.

• Food and beverage · 1984

  Food court

  A large food court forms part of the shopping centre's offer, complementing the retail units and supporting short visits, station-linked footfall and longer city-centre shopping trips.

• Property and visitor facilities · 1984

  Landscaped plaza and atrium spaces

  The centre was designed around a Princes Street-level roof and landscaped plaza, with internal atria and a lower-level shopping environment. Earlier interiors used planting and water features to create a distinctive visitor experience.

• 2021

  Return to historic Waverley Market brandingStrategy

  Background

  The property had used several identities since the 1980s, including Waverley Shopping Centre, Princes Mall and Waverley Mall.

  Action taken

  The centre reverted to the Waverley Market name in September 2021.

  Aftermath

  The change restored the name associated with the historic market that previously occupied the site.

  Source

• 2016

  Rebrand and reopen after major renovationStrategy

  Background

  The centre had experienced weaker popularity and periods of high vacancy during the early 2000s, while later access improvements and new retail lettings supported a renewal effort.

  Action taken

  Management completed a reported £4 million renovation and officially reopened the property under the Waverley Mall name in March 2016.

  Aftermath

  The refurbishment represented a new phase in the centre's retail positioning before the property later returned to the Waverley Market name.

  Renovation cost. £4 million reported renovation (2016)

  Source

• Approve rooftop expansionStrategy

  Background

  The existing centre occupies approximately 8,000 square metres and has a rooftop area capable of further development.

  Action taken

  Edinburgh City Council approved a redevelopment that would develop the rooftop and add approximately 3,000 square metres.

  Aftermath

  The approval establishes a potential physical expansion of the shopping centre, although the reference material does not provide a completion date or detailed tenant plan.

  Source

1. 1Waverley Marketen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Waverley Mall websitewaverleymall.com