Lucie Loves Highcross

BLOGGED: Lucie Loves... @Highcross | The Best Bits. Resident Blogger Recap. Goodbye Leicester... Hello London!

Sat, 29 Sep 2012 17:03:54 -0400

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.

The Real China

Ed’s Diner

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.

Lucie x

For more Highcross News, Gossip, Updates, Offers and Photos check out the Highcross Facebook page.

Photography © Lucie Kerley

BLOGGED: #TriedAndTested Sunday's at the brand new @Eds_Easy_Diner @Highcross, Leicester. #Food #Photos #Review

Sun, 23 Sep 2012 16:58:41 -0400

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.

“The Springboard Charity is a forerunner in helping young, unemployed and disadvantaged people improve their prospects for economic well being. We provide opportunities for sustainable employment, or vibrant careers in hospitality, leisure and tourism.”

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!

OPENING TIMES

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

PHOTO BLOG: Lucie Loves... @Highcross Leicester Shopper Evening! @GEM106fm prizes, Beauty Bus, Sexy models in gorgeous lingerie and lots of happy shoppers!

Fri, 14 Sep 2012 11:43:27 -0400

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...

Wed, 12 Sep 2012 13:59:33 -0400

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...

Wed, 12 Sep 2012 12:56:08 -0400

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)

ATTENTION! #CLOTHES-LOVING! #SALE-SEEKING! #STYLE-SAVVY PEEPS! @Highcross #DiscountShopping Event 12.09.12

Wed, 05 Sep 2012 07:50:55 -0400

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

QUICKKK!!! Get VOTING! Best #LBDSummerSundae Festival Outfit! @Highcross Facebook #COMPETITION ends soon!

Thu, 30 Aug 2012 17:05:29 -0400

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

What to wear #AW12? Watch @State_of_Style’s...

Tue, 28 Aug 2012 10:04:00 -0400

What to wear #AW12? Watch @State_of_Style’s @HMUnitedKingdom #fashion Trends Video! Wardrobe update @Highcross, fancy a spree?

AW12 @ H&M looks pretty darn good to me!!

AW12 Tick list:

Opt for pieces with: Embellishment
Make a statement: Wear Decorative pieces or things with stunning detailing
Play with: Clean Cut clothing
Try New Fabrics: - wool / coated fabrics/ brocade/ jacquard
Channel: A strong, feminine look for Autumn /Winter
Colour palette: Dark Blue / Burgundy / Dark Biege / Gold/ Metallic
Think shape: Try BIG Shoulders and nipped-in waists.
Do: ‘Tom-boy’.
Outfits with a masculine edge but worn with a feminine confidence
Try wearing: printed pants, jackets and suits.
Buy: Spectacular prints and patterns from head to toe
Be Inspired by: wallpaper, furniture coverings
Acquire: a good pencil skirt
Feel good in: Slacks - tapered trousers

Video by the fabulous peeps at State of Style.

Some quite cool things coming up @AlmanackHighX #tasty #treats...

Sun, 26 Aug 2012 09:20:43 -0400

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...

Sat, 25 Aug 2012 04:31:30 -0400

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

Are all the pictures up for LBD? I try searching but it doesn't let me. LBD087 is my code. BOOM!

Thu, 23 Aug 2012 07:35:31 -0400

Hello, they are now up! https://www.facebook.com/highcross/app_138944999576942 Have a look! Any problems - post it on the Highcross Facebook and the team will do their best to help you! Enjoy! x

Hello everyone! VOTING IS NOW LIVE!! @Highcross #LBDSummerSundae...

Thu, 23 Aug 2012 07:24:12 -0400

Photo: David Wilson-Clarke

Photo: David Wilson-Clarke

Photo: David Wilson-Clarke

Photo: David Wilson-Clarke

Hello everyone! VOTING IS NOW LIVE!! @Highcross #LBDSummerSundae Leicester’s Best Dressed Competition!https://www.facebook.com/highcross/app_138944999576942

Photos of me mid-Street Style photographer action @SummerSundae Festival by @ddwwcc - David Wilson Clarke

http://www.flickr.com/photos/davidwilsonclarke/

Thank DWC!

VOTE FOR YOUR FAVOURITE LBD FESTIVAL OUTFIT NOW!!

Just a standard Monday night… drooling over my @Highcross...

Mon, 20 Aug 2012 18:02:37 -0400

Just a standard Monday night… drooling over my @Highcross #LBDSummerSundae Street Style photos of ~~girls in~~ Doc Martens from this years @SummerSundae Festival. That’s my 27th birthday wish list sorted!! #AVeryPracticalShoe

I’ve been busily editing the 1000 or so photos taken this weekend and I am so very nearly ready to send them over ready for voting on the Highcross Facebook Page App!!! EEK!! So excited to see which festival outfit people like best!

How good is a £500 Highcross voucher going to be for kitting out your AW12 wardrobe! Wit Woo! Remember you need to get your friends, fans (for band members) and family to start voting for your photo from THURSDAY!

Got my @Oxfam #foodpower pink tattoo! @summersundae @highcross...

Sat, 18 Aug 2012 06:26:38 -0400

Got my @Oxfam #foodpower pink tattoo! @summersundae @highcross #LBD2012 #fashion #style #blogger #me #outfit #festival #whattowear #me #girl #redhead #blogger #hair (Taken with Instagram)

Currently @SummerSundae festival looking for stylish ppl to take...

Sat, 18 Aug 2012 05:44:42 -0400

Currently @SummerSundae festival looking for stylish ppl to take part in #LBD2012 @highcross #streetstyle #competition #lucieloveshighcross #leicestersbestdressed (Taken with Instagram)

Ooh! Hello @cath_kidston stand. @SummerSundae #leicester...

Sat, 18 Aug 2012 05:23:20 -0400

Ooh! Hello @cath_kidston stand. @SummerSundae #leicester #LBD2012 #festival (Taken with Instagram)

Hello @SummerSundae !! @Highcross #LBD2012 team where are...

Sat, 18 Aug 2012 05:13:32 -0400

Hello @SummerSundae !! @Highcross #LBD2012 team where are you?! #festival #music #leicester (Taken with Instagram)

#todayimwearing my @SummerSundae #Festival outfit! Can’t...

Sat, 18 Aug 2012 05:05:01 -0400

#todayimwearing my @SummerSundae #Festival outfit! Can’t wait to see what your wearing today? @Highcross #LBD2012 I’m wearing a floaty cream lace dress, @lamapeach cowboy boots, studded @topshop cuffs & a straw hat with leopard print bow. #fashion #blogger #style #ss12 #me #girl #dress #whattowear #lace #dress #studs #instapic #instadaily #summersundae (Taken with Instagram)

ATTENTION! Saturday 18th - Sunday 19th Aug. @Highcross & I are @SummerSundae for #LBD2012 #StreetStyle #Competition

Tue, 14 Aug 2012 16:42:00 -0400

Get planning your festival weekend outfits now for a chance to win Leicester’s Best Dressed Competition 2012!!! Have a look at what people wore last year… and get inspired!

Photo: Summer Sundae Festival 2011

This Saturday 18th & Sunday 19th August, the Highcross Team and I will be out spotting stylish festival goers at Summer Sundae Festival in Leicester! Have you got tickets??!?!??!

Photo: Summer Sundae Festival 2011

I will be photographing the best dressed people I can find and they will then be in with the chance of winning a £500 giftcard to splash the cash on a little shopping spree at Highcross if you’re photo is voted as Most Stylish by facebook peeps and our panel of judges!!

Photo: Summer Sundae Festival 2011

“Following the success of last year’s Leicester’s Best Dressed campaign, this year our resident blogger Lucie Kerley will be on the hunt for Leicester’s Best Dressed at the Summer Sundae Weekender festival 18 & 19 August.

So if you’re heading down to the festival make sure you dress to impress and get snapped by Lucie for your chance to win a £500 Highcross Gift Card. All pictures taken will be uploaded to our Facebook page www.facebook.com/highcross on 23 August ready for voting to begin. The top 5 most voted for entrants will face our panel of judges: Lucie Kerley our Highcross Blogger, Jon Fraser editor of 69 degrees and Abigail White our Marketing & Events Coordinator to decide the ultimate winner. ”

I look forward to seeing you all this weekend!

Woo hoo!

On Saturday 4th August I was invited to the brand new...

Sun, 12 Aug 2012 17:28:00 -0400

On Saturday 4th August I was invited to the brand new @TheBodyShopUK @Highcross, Leicester to photograph and blog about their brand new ‘Pulse Boutique’ store.

There was a frenzy of activity outside the newly refurbished store as smiling staff members of The Body Shop greeted the customers who queued up expectantly outside waiting to redeem their free gift voucher! As a thank you, The Body Shop gave their first 100 customers a little goody bag full of treats! See the end of this post for what we got!

The event was attended by Senior LOROS Fundraiser Adrian and dedicated volunteer Peter, both members of local charity the LOROS Hospice.

Customers were delighted to be offered special discounts and incentive offers with their Body Shop purchases. One lovely Bride-To-Be told me how she was getting married the very next day and was out shopping for toiletries to take with her on her honeymoon!

She was so happy to have a free gift to take with her.

Customers, new and old, were in store to check out the new layout which was complete with Dame Anita Roddick’s very own kitchen table inspired centre pieces. The lovely wooden tables, bedecked with the latest Body Shop covetable collections, are big enough to fit all of your bestest of friends around. Customers pottered around the bright, freshly designed new store filling their shopping baskets to the brim with Summer Beauty Essentials and also some products that they’d never tried before too!

The new store sees the addition of The Body Shop’s Global Community Wall. It gives shouts out to all of the great, well-deserving, charitable causes that members of The Body Shop, staff and customers, have worked hard Volunteering for. I learnt whilst in store that every Body Shop staff member gets 5 volunteering days off work a year to work with one of The Body Shop Foundation’s Charitable causes! How good is that?

The Body Shop also have their ‘The Body Shop at Home’ division too! Which is well worth checking out if you want to throw a deliciously smelling Body Shop party in the comfort of your own home! Now there’s a modern alternative to Tupperware!!

It was wonderful seeing one of LOROS’ tireless Volunteers, Peter, getting a ‘Thank You’ Gift Hamper from the lovely Body Shop Management Team.

Overall, the day was a great success, with Leicester Mercury Reporter Will Johnston coming along to meet The Body Shop Staff and LOROS Team for a feature in Leicester’s local paper.

Customer’s were treated to makeover’s and introduced to the fantastic Body Shop Loyalty Scheme. The ‘Love Your Body ‘ Reward Card is just £5 for a yearly membership and means that customers can get upto 10% off purchases per year, upto to £20 of free products and benefit from exclusive member privileges. Well worth it if you ask me!

Here’s what we got in our goody bags!

I had a lovely evening pampering myself using my freebies! The sachets of Rainforest Moisture Collection Shampoo, Conditioner,£2 and Hair Butter, £3 were just what the (hair) doctor order for my parched ends! Bliss! I really enjoyed using my miniature pot of Cocoa Butter Cream Body Scrub too, which is £12.50 for 200ml and finished off with a generous smothering of Chocomania Body Butter, £12.50. According to my boyfriend, I smelt like a dream! I can’t complain really with that kind of reaction!

To view more photos from the day, please click on the link below which will take you to my Flickr Gallery.

BLOGGED: Lucie Loves… 04.08.12 @TheBodyshopUK @Highcross Leicester, New ‘Pulse Boutique’ Store Opening with @LOROSHospice Launch Photos, a set on Flickr.

Enjoy!