This is my last ever Lucie Loves… Highcross post. :-(
It’s been a fun couple of years being Resident Blogger for the Highcross Shopping Centre in Leicester. Me, my iPhone and I, along with my trusty DSLR cameras have captured Highcross in all it’s Retail Therapy-related glory!!
However, the time has come for me to venture on to pastures anew. In my case, this means London. Scary stuff, but there are some rather exciting opportunities in store for me too!
Over the past two years, since I started blogging for Highcross in February 2011, I’ve had my fare share of interesting experiences.
I’ve carried out countless food, fashion and beauty reviews! I have added links to these reviews in this blog post, so feel free to click through and have a look…
I went to see an Opera in 3D on Valentines Day with JMG at Showcase Cinema De Lux, Highcross, where we enjoyed cocktails in the Directors Lounge and got to make our own pizzas.
I’ve had my feet nibbled by fish…
I’ve photographed behind-the-scenes at a few Highcross Photoshoots…
I’ve interviewed some fabulous stylists…
I photographed a very suave Reiss Gentlemen’s Style Evening… 
and a fantastic Comedy Night at The Almanack.
I’ve had some thoroughly fantastic & rather indulgent Spa treatments at Clarins, Decleor, Rachel Hammond and Origins…
Photo: David Wilson-Clarke
I’ve ventured out into the nearby Market Towns, walked around the Highcross and spent the weekend at Summer Sundae Festival looking for Leicestershire’s Best Dressed and captured Street Style Photos of their outfits!
I interviewed our favourite TV Weather Girl Lucy Kite when she hosted the Highcross Fashion Show Event… Watch here: When Lucie Met Lucy.
I’ve been to some mega busy Student Lock-In and High Priority Shopper Evening Events…
To be fair, I have enjoyed it all really! But the FOOOOOOOD has been incredible!
I did a ‘Dining AM to PM’ at Highcross, Food Review, feature for Highlight Magazine.
Handmade Burger Co. with JMG & Gavin Strange aka Jam Factory. 
I think I’ve #TriedAndTested about all the Highcross has to offer and if you have a gander through the archive section of the Lucie Loves… Highcross Blog, you’ll be able to see what a wail of a time I’ve had.
I hope you’ll find the stories, photo essays, reviews and chit chat enjoyable, if not useful!
Thank you for having me Highcross, it’s been a scream!!
TTFN.
For more Highcross News, Gossip, Updates, Offers and Photos check out the Highcross Facebook page.
Photography © Lucie Kerley
For lunch today @jmgcreative and I headed over to Highcross, Leicester to try out the new Ed’s Easy Diner Restaurant. It was packed!! Always a good sign when trying somewhere new. It was over 25 years ago now since Ed’s first opened their doors in Soho and now they’ve decided to bring a little 1950s nostalgia to Leicester! Over 1300 people applied to work at the new Highcross restaurant, so the selection process was pretty special. Ed’s Easy Diner recruits through the charity Springboard UK.
With it’s quirky retro 1950s decor and matching playlist with the likes of Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash tracks filling the diner as you tuck into a tasty burger. The place has a nice, informal, laid-back, fun feel. 
The menu offer a selection of beef and chicken burgers, sides, soft drinks, milkshakes and tasty toppings. Burger prices start from £5.75 for ‘The Classic’ described as ‘plain and simple, topped with griddled onions’. There are 10 different ‘Farm Assured Beef’ Burger varieties to choose from with the most expensive being their ‘Big Bubba’s Bacon N’ Cheese’ at £6.95. I went opted to try one of these as a ‘Combo Meal’ which came with fries, onion rings and coleslaw.
One of my FAVOURITE things about Ed’s Easy Diner is their milkshakes. We ordered a chocolate milkshake, which has two servings, and is priced at £3.95. They are scrumptious!! 
They also do Coffee, Butterscotch, Peanut Butter, Vanilla, Chocolate, Banana, Strawberry and Mint. For £4.25 you can order one of Ed’s Premium Shakes - Banana + Peanut Butter, Mint Chocolate, Coffee + Banana, Oreo Cookies, Mocha. MMMM! Or make it malt for an extra 30p, or if you’re feeling adventurous… and are over 18… make it an Alco-Shake by adding Dark Rum, or Bailey’s. Mmm!
I definitely recommend trying these.
You can also sign up be to be a member of Ed’s Club, and get great discounts, offers and freebies!! 
JMG opted for the Cheese Or Cheese burger. Described as: ‘The whole shebang as ‘The Original’, plus your choice of Cheddar, Swiss or American Cheese.’ Priced at £6.45.
Whilst we were waiting for our food, the manager came over to introduce himself, and explained a little more to me about Ed’s. All of the people they recruit have got something interesting about them., whether that means they are training to be an architect, are exceptionally good sportsmen or women or are a musician in a band. They are cool like that.
One of the most commonly asked questions at the new Leicester franchise is whether the food is Halal. The items on the menu that are Halal are the Ed’s Chicken Dippers and The ‘Original’ Chicken Burger, as these are fried in their own fat and do not share a grill with the other items on the menu.
To finish off our meal we both ordered a filter coffee, £1.95 with FREE REFILLS, and shared a piece of their delicious New York Style Cheesecake. MMM!
The total cost of a large-ish lunch for 2 people came to around £28. We then used JMG’s Highcross staff discount, a whopping 20% off! Which got the bill down to £22. Even better!
This place is great for meeting friends, dinner out with the family or even grabbing a quick take-away on your lunch!
Like them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter.
Also check out their offers page!
Mon:9:30 AM - 8:00 PMTue:9:30 AM - 8:00 PMWed:9:30 AM - 8:00 PMThurs:9:30 AM - 8:00 PMFri:9:30 AM - 8:00 PMSat:9:00 AM - 7:00 PMSun:11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Photography © Lucie Kerley
On Wednesday hundreds of you lovely people poured into the Highcross Shopping Centre as the rain poured down outside! (How very British!) 
(Hannah - pictured with the GEM 106 FM team - won a free £50 Highcross giftcard!!
It was great to see people enjoying the Highcross Shopper Evening entertainment which included free prize draws from the GEM106 FM team.
There were also lots of lovely models strutting their stuff in the latest lingerie collections from the likes of @Debenhams and @JohnLewisRetail.
I think this might be Alice, from the blog: http://this-littlebird.blogspot.co.uk/ having a chat to the BB’s Brow Bar Team… :-)
Loads of people wanted to try out a few pamper day treats on the Highcross Vintage Beauty Bus, where staff from the Clarins, The Body Shop and BB’s Brow Bar Teams were on hand to beautify for FREE!! Brilliant!
It was also a good opportunity for me to meet Anthony and Chris, Managers of the new @TheEmporiumLeic clothing store, which is located next to H&M on the upper mall.
I was delighted to hear that their clothing is all UK sourced and the dress I tried on, a lovely cage detail cream number, was actually MADE down the road in Leicester!
I spotted plenty of studded pieces for Autumn/ Winter too! NICE! Whilst perusing their wares myself and many of their other customers enjoyed the sound of local band ‘Piloted Planes’ as their tunes thrummed throughout the store! Good work guys!
After dashing around taking photos, I treated myself to a couple of Millies Cookies (Milk Choc Chip and an Oatmeal and Raisin…) and a bottle of coca cola.
There were also people on hand promoting the latest performances at The Curve Theatre, Leicester and their new play Finding Neverland! Showing 22nd September to 13th October.
Whilst the Costa Coffee team whizzed up free fruit smoothies for people to try! Yum! The mixed berry was scrumptious!
Photography © Lucie Kerley
Well! It’s not everyday you get buff-ting models walking around in their underwear @johnlewisretail @highcross #highcrossshopperevening #leicester #lingerie #whatson #girl #models #boy #charity (Taken with Instagram)
Tried this CUTE cream cage detail dress on the new @TheEmporiumLeic store @highcross, £30! Customers get 30% off when they spend over £30!! Eek! The BEST thing about it too is that THIS DRESS WASN’T JUST #MADEINENGLAND IT WAS #MADEINLEICESTER!!! #HighcrossShopperEvening ##fashion #style #blogger #whattowear #inspiration #photo #me #girl #redhead #hair #fblogger #clothes #ootd #wiwt #instapic #outfit #whatiwore #igdaily (Taken with Instagram)
For one night only, join us for an evening of great shopping discounts and dining offers. Not to mention free pampering in our Beauty Bus in St Peter’s Square, complete with a complimentary glass of fizz courtesy of The Almanack – arrive early to avoid disappointment. 
Don’t forget to look out for our male and female underwear models who’ll be showcasing the latest seasons underwear and selling ribbons to raise awareness for breast and testicular cancer charities. 
Plus there’ll be music and prizes from GEM 106. So tell your friends and don’t miss out.
Discounts and offers from 6pm - 8pm at Highcross only
Debenhams: up to 25% off across the store plus 10% off Beauty and Fragrance.
G Star: 20% off
Simply B: 20% off full priced items
Blue Inc: 10% off full priced items
Lipsy: 20% off
Paperchase: 15% off full priced items.
Handmade Burger Co: 30% off.
Build a Bear Workshop: 10% off (excluding Gift Cards & Party Deposits).
Curve: 241 on selected show tickets.
Showcase Cinema De Lux: Orange Wednesday, 2 for 1 cocktails in Studio One and Directors Lounge, 2 for 1 Main Meals in Studio One.
Costa: 10% off all iced drinks and free sampling
Millies: Buy one treat box get another free (box of 12)
Goldsmiths: 10% off
Emporium: Spend £30 and receive 30% off
Carphone Warehouse: 10% off accessories. Free case with all upgrades.
Rituals: Buy 3 or more products and receive a free gift worth £10.90
TM Lewin: Free silk tie with any purchase over £29.50
More discounts to be annnounced soon!
Photography © Lucie Kerley
Sooo many outfits so little time (but still just enough left) to VOTE for your favourite who will be in with the chance of winning a £500 Highcross Gift Card!
Our Leicester’s Best Dressed 2012 vote is closing at 12 midnight on Sunday 2nd September, so it’s time to push for those final votes.
Good luck and get them voting.
Photography © Lucie Kerley
[video]
Some quite cool things coming up @AlmanackHighX #tasty #treats @Highcross #food #restaurants #whatson #events #leicester (Taken with Instagram)
Have YOU voted for your favourite @Highcross Leicester’s Best Dressed @SummerSundae festival outfit? #LBDSummerSundae GO! GO! GO! http://www.highcrossleicester.com/website/leicesters-best-dressed-2012.aspx