Tim Hughes and Ed Nix capture just a few of the opening events at the new Westgate shopping centre

The completion of the Westgate shopping centre was the culmination of decades of speculation and planning and, for more than two years, construction.

So its opening last Tuesday was, understandably a source of huge interest, curiosity and, it transpired, delight.

Since the ribbon was cut, there have been a series of launch events – with many more to come, as traders and restaurateurs rush to get their outlets open for business.

We popped along to a few of the openings, to see what the fuss was about – and came away pretty impressed.

The most star-studded event was that hosted by coffee machine company Nespresso, who invited west Oxfordshire rock star Alex James do play a DJ set at its launch party. The Blur bassist, Big Feastival organiser and celebrity fromagier played a set of party anthems accompanied by his wife Claire Neate – with the only cheese being that on the buffet.

Also dropping in were Made In Chelsea's Oliver Proudlock, presenter and model Laura Whitmore and model and celeb personal trainer Toby Huntington Whiteley.

There was a bigger crowd, but arguably fewer famous faces, at the other big launch – that of Indian restaurant Cinnamon Kitchen.

Owener Vivek Singh celebrated opening his fifth Cinnamon Collection restaurant, his first outside London, with a party at the rooftop venue.

Guests were entertained with live music and treated to champagne and modern Indian canapes and light bites.

The biggest crowds though have been for the shops themselves, with the John Lewis and Uniqlo stores attracting queues and stores like Ted Baker putting on the ritz for a glitzy start to trading.