TOPSHOP is to open its new flagship York store over the August Bank Holiday weekend - becoming one of the largest fashion outlets in the region.

Housed in the former Allders department store in Piccadilly, it will be the largest Topshop in the north, and will rival the company's premier store in London's Oxford Circus.

The new store is a further boost to York's shopping appeal, and follows the arrival of Jaeger, in Petergate, and the imminent appearance of Zara and H&M at a new development in Spurriergate, due to open in the New Year.

Occupying two levels, the Piccadilly site will feature Topshop on the ground floor and Topman on the first floor.

The high street chain will retain its other Topshop stores at Monks Cross, but will close its branch in Coney Street.

The focus on the Piccadilly branch will be to stock more upmarket collections from the award-winning retailer.

Customers at the new store will be able to buy items from the exclusive TS Design and Boutique ranges, normally only available in London, Birmingham, Manchester and Glasgow.

A maternity range will also be on sale as well as clothes in the Tall and Petite ranges.

The first floor will also house an extensive shoe shop.

The interior of the store will be designed with retro wooden fixtures and bold graphic wallpapers and will incorporate chill-out areas with plasma screens showing the latest music videos.

Topshop's style advisor service will be available on the ground floor, offering a personal shopping experience for customers.

Topman will offer a similar service for male customers on the first floor, with the focus on giving men sound advice on fit and style when buying a suit.

A Topshop spokeswoman said: "We wanted to open our new store in York because it is a shopping destination. People have money to spend and are not being serviced well enough at the moment.

"We will be stocking many of our premium ranges at the new store which have a slightly higher price tag, but feature silks, chiffon and jumpers which have a very nice quality to them.

"Our Boutique range is an in-house, design-led collection which is very directional and fashion-forward."

The spokeswoman said she hoped the Piccadilly store would become a fashion destination in the way that Oxford Circus has.

She said: "At Oxford Circus, shoppers include the editor of Vogue and the film star Scarlett Johansson. We'd like to make York into a mini Oxford Circus and create a similar buzz."

The store will open on Friday, August 26, and will be accompanied by a host of activities. Staff will be giving out ice poles and ice cream in a promotional drive and arrows will be stuck on to city centre pavements directing shoppers to the new store.

Topman gift cards will be handed out for free, featuring amounts from £1 to £200 for people to spend in store. People will have to visit the store and use a special card-reading unit to find out how much money is loaded on to their card.

Updated: 08:37 Monday, August 08, 2005