Shoppers will get their first look at fashion retailer River Island’s latest store today (August 18) as the newest addition to Beverley’s Flemingate centre opens its doors to the public.

The new store will create 19 local jobs and marks the sixth opening at Flemingate in the past eight weeks, following retailers Baytree Interiors and Peacocks, restaurants Riva Lounge and Café Bar and Gourmet Burger Kitchen and fresh food franchise Subway.

Other leading fashion retailers at Flemingate include Debenhams, H&M and Peacocks and the centre’s shopping offer is set to continue expanding, with two further signings soon to be announced.

River Island’s 10,066 sq ft store at Flemingate follows the same format as the brand’s flagship retail outlets in Oxford Street and Marble Arch in London.  With over 60 years of fashion retailing experience, River Island is one of the best known and loved brands on the high street.

Holly Fulco, spokesperson at River Island, said: “Flemingate’s position at the heart of an affluent catchment area made it a very attractive proposition for us.  It is a growing retail location that we are very keen to be a part of and we are delighted to open the store.”

David Donkin, Property Director at Wykeland Group, owner and developer of Flemingate, said: “River Island is another great addition to Flemingate’s line-up and will appeal to the large numbers of younger consumers living in the area.

“Combined with our other fashions brands, such as H&M, Debenhams and Peacocks, Flemingate has brought something very different to Beverley and the surrounding area and this is reflected in the centre’s growing popularity with shoppers in the region.”

Flemingate is also home to the six-screen, 1,000-seat Parkway cinema, an 80-room Premier Inn, and a 500-space multi-storey car park, the largest in Beverley.  A new campus for East Riding College and 130 homes complete the £120 million development.