A well-heeled crowd mingled with celebrities at the exclusive launch of Bristol’s Harvey Nichols today.

Around 200 guests clutching purple invites emblazoned with gold lettering drank champagne after the doors opened at 12pm. 

Contortionists, a peep show and stilt-walkers lined the polished floors - complimenting the launch’s circus theme.

Burlesque star Dita Von Teese, dressed in a pink corset and sat on a jewelled carousel horse, opened the show’s centrepiece.

The 35-year-old dancer dazzled onlookers during her racy striptease before she cut the ribbon at the shop’s official opening clad in towering black patent Christian Louboutin shoes.

Meanwhile, fire-eaters and magicians entertained shoppers amid sparkling clothes rails full of designer names.

Sharply-dressed city socialites nibbled on mini burgers, tiny fish and chips, hot dogs and cup cakes.

And guest DJ Grant ‘Daddy G’ Marshall from Massive Attack spun mellow tunes to a gaggle of excited fans grouped around the decks.

Hotel worker Amiee Butcher, 26, from Clifton, said: “I’m really impressed, there’s never been anything like this in Bristol before.

“I think it’ll draw people towards the city. Usually you need to go to London to buy the kinds of labels you can get here.

“But I was surprised to see the store is quite small. I thought it would be bigger.”

General manager Sue Stones said: “We invited about 200 people and I’m delighted with the turnout.

“Everybody I’ve met has been really impressed and they all love it.

“I think it will bring people back into the centre more as they tend to shop outside just now.

"Credit crunches come and go but we are not here for now or for six months.

“We’ve got a 35-year lease so the people of Bristol will still come and shop with us for many years to come.”

A store spokesman said: “Within easy distance of the Cotswolds, Bath, Gloucestershire and Wales, Harvey Nichols Bristol is sure to become a destination shop for all those London fashionistas such as Kate Moss, Kate Winslet and Elizabeth Hurley, who are spending more and more time at their country retreats.

“All those that now have to go to London for their Balenciaga fix can soon hop over to Bristol.”

The store opened to the public at 2.30pm and outside a scrum of shoppers armed with credit cards were entertained by a live band dressed in top hats blasting out rock songs.

This evening House of Fraser will launch with a fashion show hosted by model Yasmin Le Bon.

The Cabot Circus development has taken six years to be completed and includes 140 shops, 25 restaurants, 250 apartments, offices, student housing, a cinema and a hotel across 36 acres.

Developers say that the complex will catapult Bristol into becoming a European shopping and leisure destination.