BASINGSTOKE’S brand-new B&M store officially opened its doors this morning, welcoming customers who had been queuing to be the first inside.

The new store and garden centre is at Hatch Warren Retail Park and has undergone an internal and external refurbishment of the unit which was previously occupied by Mothercare.

It has created around 50 jobs for the local community and is the retailers second store in Basingstoke, with the other next to Morrisons supermarket. 

The ribbon was cut by representatives from Basingstoke charity Inspero, who were nominated by staff at the new store.

The food and wellbeing charity aims to support those vulnerable and in need within the community providing a range of services from drop in food hubs and weekly food deliveries, to phone calls and prescription collections.

B&M presented the charity with £250 worth of vouchers which will go towards helping it continue its work in the town.

A queue of around 30 people were waiting outside B&M ahead of the opening, with the first person in the queue – Mike – having arrived at 7.30am with the hope of buying a hot-tub.

However, there was disappointment when he entered the store to find out it doesn’t sell hot-tubs.

Friends Nicole Duggan, 16, and Lauren Nash, 15, were second inside the store having arrived at 7.50am and said they had been excited about the opening.

Basingstoke Gazette:

Filling up her basket with food items, Basingstoke College of Technology student Nicole, who had tried to get a job at the new store, said: “It’s nice in here. This is better than the other B&M. We were planning to come for eight weeks and counting down.”

The friends who live in Beggarwood can walk to the store from their homes, and Lauren said: “We will be visiting every day.”

Georgia Rowland, 30, has just moved to Longacre Rise from London and visited the new store on its opening day to purchase items for her new home.

Basingstoke Gazette:

“I have been to the other B&M and it’s a bit run down and it fees a bit bare. I thought this one will be well stocked and I need to fill my home so I’m mostly looking for homeware.”

The discount store stocks a wide variety of branded food and drink items, as well as health and beauty products, homeware, electricals, DIY essentials, toys, games, gifts and garden furniture.

 

Dean Jukes, store manager, said: “We’re delighted to open the doors today and welcome our customers into their new store. The feedback has been fantastic so far.”