The Bradley Stoke Journal

The new Argos store at Bradley Stoke’s Willow Brook Centre has opened today, a day earlier than planned.

Situated in the retail terrace, between Brantano and Peacocks, the store opened to the public this morning (Friday 25th).

The Manageress of the store explained to The Journal that, with all systems ready to go, they had decided to opt for a “soft start” from 10am.

She stressed that the store’s opening offer of free £10 vouchers to the first one hundred customers would be implemented as advertised from 9am tomorrow (Saturday 26th).

Other opening offers advertised in the Evening Post this week include:

• Free vouchers worth £10 when you spend £50
• Free vouchers worth £20 when you spend £100

The store has lined up a programme of entertainment to celebrate the official opening of its new store tomorrow (Saturday 26th) – including children’s face painting (from 10am to 4pm).

Local radio station Jack FM will be broadcasting live from the Willow Brook Centre between 12 noon and 3pm, offering a chance to win one of ten £25 Argos gift vouchers.

On Sunday (27th November), Peppa Pig will be putting in appearances at 11am, 12 noon, 1pm, 2:30pm and 3:30pm.

Related link: Willow Brook Centre Stores (The Journal)

Anytime Fitness, the world’s largest 24-hour gym chain, is due to open at the Willow Brook Centre in Bradley Stoke before the end of the year.

There are 1,600 Anytime Fitness clubs worldwide and anyone who signs up in Bradley Stoke will have global access for the same cost as a single gym membership.

Members will be given their own security access key allowing them to use the gym 24 hours a day, seven days a week and 365 days a year.

A member of the Anytime Fitness team will help you develop a training programme to improve cardio fitness and strength and flexibility.

Anytime Fitness will be located above Costa Coffee, Greggs, Taylors Estate Agents and KFC and the new members can benefit from a fantastic opening offer of £22.95 per month – places are limited though!

Regional Manager Ben Palmer said:

“We already have a gym in Clifton and it’s been such a great success we are really looking forward to opening in Bradley Stoke.”

“Anyone wanting more information could come and see us in Clifton, or email bradleystoke@anytimefitness.co.uk and we’ll get back to you.”

Telephone 0845 519 6761 for further details of the new Anytime Fitness gym in Bradley Stoke.

The new Bradley Stoke Argos store, due to open at 9am on Saturday (26th November), is offering a free £10 voucher to the first one hundred customers on its first day of trading.

Fitting out of the store, located at the Willow Brook Centre between Brantano and Peacocks, is now nearing completion and Argos lorries were observed at the back of the premises last week, delivering stock.

The 8,000 sq ft unit has been fitted with a mezzanine floor, which will be used as a stock room – along with the rear section of the ground floor.

The sales area includes a jewellery counter on the left hand side, with the collection counter situated towards the rear.

Around 40 new jobs have been created at the new store, according to an earlier press release put out by the Willow Brook Centre.

Related links:

• Latest Price Cuts at Argos
• Shops at the Willow Brook Centre (The Journal)

The Christmas lights at Bradley Stoke’s Willow Brook Centre will be switched on this Thursday afternoon (17th November 2011) when Ben & Holly from Ben & Holly’s Little Kingdom make a special guest appearance.

In contrast to previous years when the event has been fronted by Heart FM (we reported in 2009 & 2010), this year will see live music and entertainment provided by our own Bradley Stoke Radio (BSR).

Visitors will have a chance to win £250 to spend at a store of their choice at the Willow Brook Centre by entering a competition during the event.

We’ve heard that BSR are planning kids’ magic, balloon modelling, music quizzes, choir singing, dance groups and, of course, seasonal music and jingles.

The action gets underway at 2:30pm and runs until 5:30pm.

Could the event rival last week’s Olly Murs lights switch-on at The Mall, Cribbs Causeway (the Patchway Journal reported)? MC Andy of Bradley Stoke Radio will no doubt give it his best shot – streamers and artificial snow machines at the ready!

More: Bradley Stoke Radio at the Willow Brook Centre »

Bradley Stoke’s Willow Brook Centre has announced that Argos has completed contracts on an 8,000 sq. ft. unit that is set to open in late November, in time for Christmas.

The new store will occupy unit 3 of the retail terrace, between Brantano and Peacocks.

Scott Lahive, Manager of the Willow Brook Centre said:

“We will be delighted to see Argos open here in Bradley Stoke.”

“It’s also good news for all our tenants to see the Centre fully let in retail terms.”

A press release put out today by the Centre describes Argos as: “a well-established, unique retailer recognised for choice, value and convenience. It sells general merchandise and products for the home and, on average, 18 million UK households, or around two thirds of the population, have an Argos catalogue at home at any time.”

Following the re-opening of the Santander agency branch last week, this latest news means that the Centre will have 100% retail occupancy by the end of 2011, just over three years after its official opening in October 2008.

More: Unit 3 has planning permission for a mezzanine floor »

The Santander agency branch at Bradley Stoke’s Willow Brook Centre has re-opened under new management less than six weeks after it closed due to “difficulties” between the unit’s previous operator and the centre’s management.

Business at the branch came to a sudden end on Thursday 11th August 2011 after staff had been informed of the impending closure just a few days earlier. The agency had been run by IPM Agencies (Santander) Ltd, a company registered at the same address as 1st Equity, who were behind the failed Nationwide agency that traded from the unit between October 2008 to February 2010.

A spokesperson for Santander told The Journal:

“It was with regret that we had to announce the short notice closure of the Agency on 12th August 2011 after the Agent became unable to trade from the premises. Since then we have worked to restore a banking and savings service for customers, and have appointed Hart Agency Services as an Agent of Santander.”

Read on to find out more about the company behind the new agency »