The Centre, Livingston was buzzing with activity when our Style Squad caught up with visitors recently. From exploring the brand-new VANILLA store and picking up last-minute holiday essentials to getting a head start on Christmas shopping and browsing the latest bestselling books – there was plenty of reasons to enjoy a day out at the shopping centre.
With the new season in full swing, it was the perfect time to explore the latest Autumn/Winter collections and give their wardrobes a mini refresh. From chunky knits and wool jumpers to stylish bomber jackets, versatile layering pieces and dresses that take you effortlessly from day to night, there are plenty of ways to embrace the season’s trends. Whether you’re looking to invest in a few new wardrobe staples or find that standout piece to elevate your look, The Centre, Livingston has plenty of inspiration to help you step into the colder months in style.
For a home refresh, stores like Primark, Søstrene Grene and B&M offer plenty of inspiration, with an extensive choice of decorative accessories and soft furnishings. From neutral-toned cushions and cosy wool throws to eye-catching prints and statement pieces, which can easily add a little bit of warmth to any room.
To complete your home refresh, you can explore the range of fragrances available at stores like Yankee Candle, Lush and Rituals. From soothing scents to fresh, uplifting fragrances, there’s something to suit every taste, helping you create a welcoming atmosphere that smells just as good as it looks. With over 150 fantastic shops and restaurants to choose from, including Flannels, River Island, New Look, Nando’s, wagamama and Five Guys, there’s something for everyone at The Centre, Livingston.
As well as browsing the shops, our Style Squad took the opportunity to chat with visitors about what brought them to The Centre, Livingston and discover their favourite stores and shopping plans. To make their day even more special, we were delighted to surprise some shoppers with a £25 Gift Card to treat themselves to something nice.
First up on our radar were sisters Alison, who is a student support worker and Kirsty who works at Citizens Advice, who decided to meet halfway from where each of them lives to enjoy a day out shopping and a spot of lunch. It was lovely to surprise them with a £25 Gift Card to treat themselves. Kirsty had her eye on a beautiful argyle wool jumper – perfect for keeping cosy in the colder months ahead.
Kirsty said: “Today my sister and I decided to meet in the middle of both cities where we live to catch up and enjoy some shopping and a bite to eat – we definitely weren’t expecting to receive a Gift Card to treat ourselves, which has made our day – thank you.”
It was great to chat to Alistair, who works in insurance and Alix, a solicitor, who were shopping for a big holiday to South America in a couple of weeks, picking up some last-minute t-shirts from Primark. Alix said: “We are really looking forward to our holiday, which has been in planning for some time. We’ll be visiting Brazil and Argentina, which have always been on our wish list. We wanted to nip into the shopping centre to get some last bits and pieces and found everything we need in Primark to finalise the packing. We live locally so it’s easy for us to pop into The Centre, Livingston regularly, even if it’s just for a meander, especially in stores like Søstrene Grene as I love their candles, and M&S too if I’m looking to refresh my wardrobe. It makes for a really nice day out when we can combine it with dining out in one of the restaurants, especially our go-to favourite Five Guys.”
We had a great time catching up with Mikaela and her gorgeous little boy, Aodhan, who was shopping for Christmas inspiration for his very first Christmas, and managed to find a beautiful book, The Night Before Christmas, which she’s really looking forward to reading with him in the run-up to the big day.
Mikaela said: “I really enjoy a wander at The Centre, Livingston as there’s such a great variety of shops that I like, including Primark and M&S and I also Dnisi too – it’s such a lovely place to take a bit of time out to relax with a coffee and cake. I also meet a group of lovely new mums in M&S café every Tuesday, which is always one of my highlights of the week – it is so nice to share new baby stories in a lovely, welcoming environment.”
Great friends Katie, Sarah and Rachel met up at The Centre, Livingston to check out the brand-new VANILLA store, opposite Flying Tiger, which brings Blue Vanilla and Pink Vanilla together in one new location. The store was a big hit with the friends, who all work together in Nando’s. Katie bought a beautiful dress and striped top, and Rachel snapped up a very stylish burgundy bomber jacket, which she popped on to showcase.
Whether you’re looking for everyday outfits, cosy knitwear and stylish cardigans for the colder months, or a statement dress for a special occasion, there’s plenty to explore. Blue Vanilla offers feminine, easy-to-wear styles, while Pink Vanilla has more of a fun, youthful edge with lots of fantastic trend-led pieces – it’s well worth a visit if you’re planning to give your wardrobe a glow-up. Rachel said: “We loved visiting the new VANILLA store – there’s such a great choice of everyday wear. I’ve been looking for a burgundy bomber jacket for a while, and this is exactly what I had in mind – we’ll definitely be back soon!”
Last up on our radar to ‘surprise and delight’ with a £25 Gift Card courtesy of The Centre, Livingston was Nancy Ferguson, who was enjoying a day out book shopping in Waterstones – where we offered to pay for her books and a nice lunch in the café too.
Nancy said: “I’m absolutely over the moon to be surprised with such a lovely gesture to pay for my two news books and lunch too. I often visit the shopping centre as there’s a great variety of stores, including M&S, which I really like, and it is easy for me to get to, but today has definitely been extra special – thank you so much!”
Patrick Robbertze, Centre Director at The Centre, Livingston, said: “It’s always great to see shoppers enjoying everything The Centre, Livingston has to offer, whether they’re catching up with friends, discovering our newest stores or getting ready for the season ahead. We were delighted to surprise some of our visitors with a £25 gift card to treat themselves and make their shopping trip extra special. With the latest Autumn/Winter trends, plenty of inspiration for Christmas shopping and a fantastic choice of shops and places to eat, we look forward to welcoming even more visitors over the coming months.”