The Bradley Stoke Journal

The first tenant of retail terrace unit 6 at Bradley Stoke’s Willow Brook Centre will probably be a “value retailer”, according to Centre Manager Scott Lahive.

The statement would appear to end speculation that a prestige fashion retailer such as New Look might open at the centre, although one further unit remains unoccupied and could in theory still be taken by a big name company.

“Opening Soon” signs on the unit, situated to the right of the Pets at Home store, appeared on Wednesday 4th August – along with similar signage on units 5, 6 & 7 in the Town Square, unit 7 in the mall and unit 1 in the retail terrace.

The Journal has since revealed that the Town Square units will host a Harvester restaurant and that Boots will be moving into the corner unit (#1) of the retail terrace.

Mr Lahive has now also confirmed to The Journal that Ocean will be opening in mall unit 7 (to the right of Card Factory) in mid-October. The estate agents’ relocation from Baileys Court confirms our prediction made on Tuesday 10th August, after the firm’s existing office went up for rental.

Have Your Say: Mr Lahive has previously spoken of interest from an “unnamed sports retailer”. Which “value retailer” (if any) would you like to see opening in Bradley Stoke? Have your say by leaving a comment on this story.

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The management of Bradley Stoke’s Willow Brook shopping centre have confirmed that they are in “final discussions” with Boots, the UK’s leading pharmacy-led health and beauty retailer.

Speculation that Boots would be opening soon in Bradley Stoke heightened when a planning application in the company’s name was submitted to South Gloucestershire Council last week.

The planning  application concerns unit 1 in the retail terrace, on the corner of the Town Square – between the new Simpson’s Fish and Chip shop and Brantano.

Permission is being sought because Boots wishes to add an extra “mezzanine” floor to the unit, in order to accommodate a regional office and extra storage space. The company also wishes to add an extra entrance, for direct access to the regional office.

Once extended, the store will offer 3,900 sq ft of retail space with a further 3,000 sq ft available for the regional office.

Read on for more details of the new Boots store in Bradley Stoke »

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The Harvester chain is to set to open a restaurant at Bradley Stoke’s Willow Brook Centre.

An eagle-eyed Journal reader spotted notices in the windows of Town Square units 5, 6 & 7  this morning, which show that Mitchells & Butlers (the owning company) has applied to South Gloucestershire Council for an alcohol and entertainment licence on behalf of the national restaurant chain.

The Journal understands that the company plans to open a restaurant seating around 80 diners, with the possibility of further tables being positioned outside in the square.

Initially the business will be “dining only” but there is the possibility that a bar might be included at a later stage.

Objections to the licensing application must be made by Wednesday 15th September.

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An unnamed store at Bradley Stoke’s Willow Brook shopping centre has vetoed the Town Council’s plan to establish a monthly farmers’ market in the Town Square.

July’s meeting of Full Council had been told that Council staff were keen to set up a regular farmers’ and artisans’ market in the Town Square and that initial discussions with the Willow Brook Centre had proved fruitful.

Staff had made contact with a local market organiser and advice had been sought from officials at South Gloucestershire Council.

Some Councillors expressed surprise that Tesco had not objected to the plan on the grounds that it might affect their trade but Town Clerk Sharon Petela explained that experience elsewhere showed that the reverse was true, citing  the market held outside Waitrose in Portishead as an example.

However, hopes were dashed at last night’s meeting of the Leisure , Youth & Amenities Committee, where it was reported that Willow Brook Centre Manager Scott Lahive has since “received objections from one of the major tenants [of the centre]“.

Councillors expressed dismay at the change of heart, with Cllr Julian Barge describing the objections as “narrow minded”.

The first market had been due to take place on Wednesday 6th October and the monthly event had already been publicised on the Farmers’ Markets page of the Taste South Gloucestershire website.

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The newly-opened Simpson’s Fish & Chips shop at Bradley Stoke’s Willow Brook Centre could be swamped by eager customers this Friday as a result of a “free fish & chips” offer being advertised on a local radio station.

Heart West Country (formerly GWR FM and Heart Bristol) is currently running a “competition” whereby anyone sending a text message to a specified number receives receives a “bounceback” with details of how to claim their single portion of free fish & chips.

Texts can be sent anytime until 4pm on Friday and the freebie must be claimed between 4pm and 6pm on Friday.

All entrants will also go into a draw to win the “perfect Friday night in”, which consists of a Blu Ray player and four Blu Ray discs plus (you’ve guessed it?) fish & chips for a family of four from Simspon’s.

The competition has already attracted the attention of seasoned bargain hunters after a message was posted in the forum of the popular MoneySavingExpert website.

Full details of the offer can be found here on the Heart West Country website.

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