US womenswear and homeware giant Anthropologie is to open its first UK store outside of London next summer, in a three-storey site on Edinburgh’s George Street.

It is the retailer’s third store in Europe. The Urban Outfitters-owned retailer currently operates from two London stores on Regent Street and the King’s Road.

The 7,000 sq ft site is located at 39-41 George Street and the store design will be individual to that location.

It is understood that the retailer will be paying one of the highest rents on George Street, around £500,000 a year, a price normally associated with rental costs on Princes Street, Edinburgh, according to reports.

Retailers’ such as Jack Wills and Abercrombie and Fitch are already established on George Street and property experts said the deal will prompt more key fashion retailers to open up there.

Anthropologie opened its first store in Pennsylvania in 1992 and now has 135 stores across the United States.