Bolton's new £40m shopping centre has opened its doors to the public giving a major boost to the town centre.

Shoppers queued outside the revamped Market Place yesterday ahead of an official ribbon cutting ceremony by the Mayor of Bolton, Cllr Anthony Connell.

Work has been under way for 18 months to controversially transform the old Market Hall into a new retail space, attracting High Street names such as Zara, H&M and Lush to Bolton for the first time.

Shoppers, encouraged by the offer of £50 vouchers to the first 50 people through the door, queued up from 7am.

First through the door were cousins Shazia Hussain and Saiqua Resman, from Great Lever, who had even offered to help Andrea Ferguson, owner of Westwell florists, unload her stock ready for the grand opening.

The women were rewarded with a bouquet from Westwell, the centre’s oldest tenants, who have been trading there since 1858.

Despite the history, it is the future that Kevin Leaver, senior development manager for centre developers Warner Estates, is looking forward to.

“This relaunch has been many years in the making,” he said.

“It has been a complex project working within a listed building. Hopefully people will see we have given a new lease of life to the Market Hall.”

Contractors were putting finishing touches to the centre throughout the night, even painting walls and delivering furniture in the minutes leading up to the 10am opening.

Following the ribbon cutting, Cllr Connell said the centre will be a significant asset to the town. “It is wonderful to see a beautiful Grade II listed hall restored to its former glory,” he said.

When plans to redevelop the centre were first announced, they sparked anger among many people, with opponents raising a 77,000-name petition against the move to force out more than 50 stall-holders.

Market Place manager Rod Neasham said: “I think a lot of people feared we were going to knock the old building down or do something drastic but they can see we haven’t. We have brought the place to life.”

Twenty four of the new units are already let, 23 of them to retailers new to Bolton and centre bosses say that by the time the centre is fully occupied, up to 500 new jobs will have been created, 200 of them going to long-term unemployed local people.

There was excitement among staff at the new stores as they prepared to welcome their first customers with free samples, vouchers, chocolates and balloons.

Starbucks was opening its first coffee shop in Bolton on the upper floor of the mall, with manager Jayne Delvard and Wanderers mascot Lofty welcoming customers with samples of coffee and cake and supporting charity Breast Cancer Care.

In the afternoon, Wanderers star Gretar Steinsson put in an appearance with his wife, Manuela, to support the charity by signing mugs for fans.

Mrs Delvard said: “In the past 18 months or so, out-of town locations and retail parks have been the key focus, so it is nice to bring trade back to the town centre.”

Principles is using its new store in the Market Place to pioneer its personal shopping service.

For the first time outside London, it has created a special lounge at the store, with clothes specially selected by trained advisers to suit customers.

Principles retail director Alana Mazza said: “This has been planned as part of the store from the start.

“Everybody is so into Trinny and Susannah but what they can’t do at the moment is get that sort of advice in the High Street.

“This is something we really want to develop.”

Retailer Zara, which has nearly 4,000 stores worldwide, is opening its first Bolton store.

Human resources director Vanessa Corley believes it will attract more people new to the brand and mean customers no longer have to travel to Manchester or the Trafford Centre to shop.

Other new stores opening yesterday included Oasis, Jane Norman, Warehouse, Lush, Game Xchange and Carphone Warehouse.

Existing local retailers relocating to the revamped centre include Cappuccinos, C&J Carter Jewellers, Photoworld, Varanni and The Bag Shop.

Following the opening, VIPs and civic dignitaries celebrated with brunch at the Holiday Inn.

Bolton Council’s director of development and regeneration, Keith Davies, said the arrival of the new retail space will give a boost to the whole of the town and encourage more people to shop locally rather than head for locations such as the Trafford Centre.

“People have a real alternative. They don’t have to travel elsewhere now,” he said.

The celebrations are planned to continue in coming months, with visitors given the chance to win use of a new Ford Fiesta for a year.

And on October 30, there will be a royal visit from the Earl of Wessex, Prince Edward, who will unveil a plaque.

In recent months, artists and poets have been working with local schools to create unique artwork which will be hung as permanent features in the centre and new Christmas decorations, including a huge tree, have been ordered to help the centre mark a sparkling first Christmas .

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