A new discount superstore has opened at the Willow Brook Centre, Bradley Stoke, taking the place of two previously vacant units in the retail terrace.
The new B&M store opened its doors at 8am on Friday 12th July 2024 following a ribbon-cutting ceremony carried out by representatives of a local charity.
It is located in the adjoining units previously occupied by Argos, which closed several years ago, and One Below, which ceased trading in January this year.
The newly combined unit, which has a floorspace of 14,469sqft, has undergone a comprehensive internal and external refurbishment programme.
B&M says the launch of the new store has created more than 45 jobs for local people.
A spokesperson for the company said:
“Customers can expect to find a wide variety of branded groceries for the best possible price including a range of food, drink and pet food. There is also a fantastic selection of quality health and beauty products, homeware, electricals, DIY essentials, toys, games, gifts and plenty more to explore.”
The store’s colleagues were asked to nominate a local charity they think “truly deserves some VIP treatment for the work they do for the local community”. They chose the team from North Bristol & South Gloucestershire Foodbank to take centre stage and officially unveil the new outlet.
North Bristol & South Gloucestershire Foodbank opened in 2012 and feeds on average 1,350 clients each month. The foodbank works together to stop hunger in the local area and is working to transform into a compassionate Advice First model, guiding individuals towards lasting solutions, fostering community hubs that extend beyond emergency food, and changing perceptions to create empathy about poverty. The commitment to efficiency, financial stability, and strategic planning ensures that every action brings us closer to a future without the need for foodbanks.
In addition to opening the store, the team will also receive £250 worth of B&M vouchers, which will go towards helping the charity to continue doing the great work they do.
The B&M store manager, said:
“It was really exciting to welcome customers through the doors; the feedback so far has been fantastic.”
“A big thank you to the team at North Bristol & South Gloucestershire Foodbank who helped us open the store; we hope that our donation can help them to continue to do the great work they do.”
Opening hours
The opening hours of the new B&M store in Bradley Stoke are currently:
- Monday to Saturday: 8am to 8pm
- Sunday: 10am to 4pm*
* Opens 15min earlier on Sundays for browsing only.
Extension on hold?
The Willow Brook Centre has extant planning permission to extend the retail terrace at its north-western end by enlarging the footprint of the unit currently occupied by Poundstretcher. The expanded unit would house a “discount food retailer”, rumoured to be Lidl, although implementation of the scheme appears to be on hold at present.