YORK'S growing reputation as a magnet for top fashion names just got bigger.

Speculation is mounting that designer store Harvey Nichols is preparing to follow suit. When asked if the store planned to set up a branch in the city, a spokesman said: "York would definitely be of interest to us".

Top designer chain Whistles, whose clothes are worn by the likes of Kate Moss and Marianne Faithfull, has confirmed it is moving into premises vacated by Mountain Warehouse, in Stonegate.

The retail market in the city centre continues to move from strength to strength, following the addition of Zara and H&M. Coast recently signed up to take on the former Edmund Jackson clothes shop, in Davygate.

Fashion chain Morgan will be joining the big names in York's Coney Street this spring when it opens a new store on March 31.

Andrew Hedley, of Blacks Properties, has also confirmed three fashion brands, including a "major player" of international standing, had confirmed an interest in taking on the premises at 55 Low Petergate.

He said there was also considerable interest from designer shopping boutiques for the building at 13 Stonegate.

"I've been here 30 years and never seen such a high demand for high street retail," he said.

"Eight of ten inquiries for shopping premises are fashion-led at the moment. It's red hot."

Whistles has been a feature of the trendy London fashion scene for more than 25 years, synonymous with quality and the cutting edge of designer clothing.

Adam Sinclair, chairman of York Chamber of Trade and York Business Pride, said: "Whistles is a leading designer name and it's a massive coup for the city and Stonegate," he said.

"Its presence will make York more attractive. It shows to me that the big names want to come and target our historic premises."

Amanda Burrows, Whistles' brand director, said: "Whistles is really excited and delighted to be opening a new store in York.

"An added excitement and bonus for York and for ourselves is the fact that it is going to be the first opening of a store with a new concept for us."

A spokesman for Harvey Nichols said: "We are always looking at sites and York would definitely be of interest to us. At this moment in time, we can't confirm or deny anything.

"It's an up-and-coming city and the north of England is a big fashion place. There's lots going on and it's always interesting being a part of that."

Mr Hedley said he was "not surprised" by the interest shown by Harvey Nichols in moving to the city given its intention to be involved in the failed Coppergate II deve-lopment.

"We are attracting the country's leading high street names," he said.

Store's long-term interest in city

YORK is no stranger to speculation that Harvey Nichols would grace the city centre with its high-class presence.

At the height of the doomed Coppergate Riverside development saga in 2000, the retail world was rife with rumours that they planned to open a store at the site.

The company always denied this and it later emerged that Debenhams were planning to open a massive new department store in Piccadilly as part of the scheme. Other tenants interested in Coppergate were Karen Millen, French beauty products retaile Sephora, H&M, Hennes, from Sweden, and Zara from Spain, which has now opened in Coney Street.

Updated: 11:28 Monday, March 20, 2006