In the past few weeks, much has been made of the largest European inner-city shopping experience to hit London. We already know the impressive statistics: that the 1.6 million square feet of Westfield’s latest mega mall contains 265 stores and cost £1.7 billion to build. That there are 4,500 parking spaces,96 escalators and that the development was built from enough concrete to fill 117 Olympic sized swimming pools.

So what else could a growing band of ever-cautious consumers expect to find on the much anticipated opening day? It was certainly more spacious that one might expect. The 8 metre-high, glass ceiling-to-floor shop fronts added a modern, airy aspect to the usual row of high-street chain stores. The spectacular glass dome with its undulating panels designed to capture and diffuse the correct amount of natural daylight meant that shoppers didn’t feel claustrophobic, nor were they caught squinting in the full glare of a sunny November morning.

The Village (or the area of designer boutiques) felt set apart enough from the rest of the ‘highstreet’ and the chandeliers by Replica gave this Michael Gabellini-designed section a luxe, sophisticated polish. Disappointingly, several of the brands – Burberry, Prada, Louis Vuitton – won’t be opening till November but speculation that many outlets have not been let proved unfounded. 99 per cent of the retail outlets have been occupied and from 9am onwards the sound of 10-1 countdowns from stores that were about to open and the noise of champagne corks popping filled the air.

At Marks & Spencer, they chose to unveil (ahead of their other branches) their Christmas Limited collection. A lot of thought has evidently gone into the way clothes are merchandised. Here the shopper will find spacier, catwalk-feel aisles and artwork from renowned fashion illustrator Natasha Law hanging from the ceiling, certainly upping the style ante and lending an aspirational edge to the clothes. Neither were the M&S food areas or cafes hidden away in dingy little corners but situated in open plan surroundings with calming lighting and trendy, Mid-Century Modern furniture. “It’s certainly going to give Oxford Street reason to fight back and regenerate and if that raises the bar, even for us, then surely that is a good thing”, said Stuart Rose, Mark & Spencer’s CEO. Over at House of Fraser, a department store whose fate currently hangs in the balance, there was no sign of economic doom’n’gloom. Their accessories floor was an impressive mix of concessions from Anya Hindmarch, Lanvin, Marni and Yves Saint Laurent.

What Westfield does bring to London is a unique and democratic way of shopping, where highstreet brands sit cheek by jowl with designer labels as well as supermarket shopping.

“There isn’t anywhere else in London where I could buy clothes for the kids, pop into Prada for myself as well as do some food shopping and all under the one roof”, says Mary Portas, retail guru and creative director of Yellow Door, the agency handling the project’s PR. It’s a sentiment echoed by Daniel and Luke Hersheson, owners of the eponymous Mayfair hair salon and who have taken a site to launch the flagship of their Blow Dry bar. “It’s an exciting concept and a venture which really does straddle two worlds. The offering is such that anyone could shop here, in that way it’s classless”.

Visitors to the site were equally wowed. Khadija Khallouk, visiting her son from Toulouse, France was impressed by the sheer scale and just how beautiful a shopping mall could feel. Others who live locally such as Kirt de Silva believe that Westfield is a positive addition to the community “there will be more jobs and regeneration”. Two mothers in their thirties pushing their under-5s also gave it the vote of confidence, “It’s exciting and makes shopping a lot easier than going to Oxford Street” said Miranda Carter. “In fact I’m never going to Oxford Street again”.

Only time will tell whether branches of Marks & Spencers, Topshop, House of Fraser and H&M will make money, as opposed to just creating competition against branches a mile or two down the road. And as for those doomsayers who complain that Westfield has all the appeal of an airport duty free terminal or a glass encased cavern, well what else are malls supposed to look like? I have also yet to come across an airport or indeed a mega mall which is so devoted to the sensory experience of the consumer. During his speech for Westfield’s opening, Boris Johnson reminded us that this mall was built to see through this recession and any that cared to follow. Lets hope he’s proved right.

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