Warminster High Street Welcomes New Store

Crowds gathered in Warminster High Street this morning to be among the first customers to shop in the town’s new variety store. The fourth branch of Alworths to open in this country has moved into the old Woolworths premises opposite the Athenaeum Theatre. 

Alworths Ltd has been created by Andy Latham, ex Head of Store and Concessions Development at Woolworths and he  was in Warminster this morning to witness the ceremonies.  “The store looks amazing and the team have done a fantastic job,” he said.

The store opening was carried out by Warminster’s Deputy Mayor Cllr Sue Fraser and 9 year old Hayden Symes  who had won a competition run by the Wiltshire Times. The competition asked children to write a letter saying why they wanted to be the one to cut the tape.  Hayden had replied saying that the store was opening on the day before his birthday and it would be a fantastic birthday present.  His prize is 5 kilos of pic’n’mix.  His aunt said she hoped he would not take it all home at once. 

The first 200 customers were given a free tub of pic’n’mix as well as one of the purple balloons which decorated the store. Louise Baggs of Camelia Drive was one of its first customers.  “I think it’s lovely," she said, "I missed Woolies when it closed and it’s good we’ve now got a shop back."  

Banks of sweet counters greet customers as they enter and Alworths sells much the same range of goods as its predecessor;  stationery, toys, kitchenware, haberdashery and at this time of year a range of Christmas goods.

The new Warminster manager is Adam Hibberd, who was manager of Woolworths at Taunton and a previous manager at Warminster.  “It’s great to be bringing a new variety store to this end of town,” he said. 

 Cllr Sue Fraser is also enthusiastic about the new store.  “It looks fantastic - fresh and bright,” she said.  “I think it will be a real asset to the town.”

Six of the original Woolworths staff have become part of the  new Alworths team, making up atotal of 17 staff.. All joined in a noisy dance around the aisles before the cutting of the tape by Hayden - at which point the crowd surged forward into the shop to set the new tills rolling.

Photos shows

1. Deputy Mayor, Cllr Sue Fraser, store manager Adam Hibberd, competition winner Hayden Symes and Alworths MD Andy Latham at the opening. 

2 New shop front on the High Street.

3 Excited crowds wait for the store to open.

 

For more photos see Gallery - Alworths opening