After more than six years in the pipeline, Stella McCartney, Vera Wang and host of designers are now finally in place, ready to bring “luxury for all” to  Bristol.

It was in January 2002 when the Bristol Evening Post first reported Harvey Nichols’ interest in moving to what was then still known only as the Broadmead redevelopment. At the time its only other UK stores were in London, Leeds and Birmingham, although it has since also opened in Edinburgh and Manchester.

Tomorrow, Bristol’s very own Harvey Nic’s  opens as the flagship store within the £500 million Cabot Circus And staff at the upmarket, designer department store are busy “making sure everything is perfect”, as  these pictures giving Bristol Evening Post readers a sneak preview inside the building attest.

Sue Stone, general manager of the store, said: “We are so busy putting everything out and making sure everything is perfect for the opening, but for me the real work starts when we welcome those first customers through the door.  That is the part I’m most looking forward to.

“Harvey Nichols is about luxury for all, whether you’re buying a Soap & Glory ‘Clean of England’ shower gel at £5 or a £3,000 Zagliani bag.”

As you step into the store,  you immediately notice the areas are defined by different materials, with lacquered fuchsia panels on one wall and gold panelling on another.

Renowned French interior designer Christian Biecher says this use of contrasting materials and textures was inspired by the  city’s famous and diverse music scene. 

On the grand floor, the perfumes and accessories are dazzling.  Stationed in front of the entrance is a Tokyo Lash Bar, where customers can get beauty treatments, including Shu Uemura eyelashes, which are popular with celebrities like  Madonna and Dita Von Teese.

As you travel up the escalator to the first floor you can trace the bold black chrome lattice metal screen, which is a feature that runs throughout the store.

This floor houses the women’s wear.  The designer garments from names  never before seen in Bristol, such as Stella McCartney and Balenciaga sit neatly on their black and chrome racks waiting to be unwrapped. A pair of Stella McCartney jeans can be snapped up for £210, while a black short-sleeved top with gold detail by Dolce & Gabbana is priced at £95. Shoppers can pick up an evening dress by Vera Wang for £330.

There is also a personal shopping suite on this floor, offering customers appointments with personal  stylists.

On the second floor is men’s wear, as well as the Harvey Nichols’ signature top-floor restaurant and bar,  food market and well-stocked wine shop.

The restaurant and bar, where shoppers can enjoy a glass of champagne from £9.50, have a separate entrance on Penn Street, allowing them to open independent of the main store.

Stationed near the restaurant on the second floor is the Harvey Nichols Foodmarket, specialising in its own-label collection of products with a large selection of food and drink from around the world. One of the cheapest products the Bristol Evening Post could find in the store was its own-label English Tea at £3.25 for a 125g box. One of the most expensive was a Balenciaga catwalk dress at almost £2,000.

The 35,000sq ft Harvey Nichols anchors the Quakers’ Friar part of Cabot Circus, which, like its flagship store, opens for the first time to Bristol shoppers tomorrow.