Customers given gifts as new Matalan store opens in Fareham

SHOPPERS queued in the cold hoping for a bargain as the new Matalan store opened in Fareham this morning.
By The Newsroom
Published 31st Mar 2016, 14:09 BST
Updated 31st Mar 2016, 14:11 BST
The Mayoress of Fareham Ann Ford and the Mayor of Fareham Mike Ford, opening the new Matalan store. Picture: Sarah Standing (160560-9805)The Mayoress of Fareham Ann Ford and the Mayor of Fareham Mike Ford, opening the new Matalan store. Picture: Sarah Standing (160560-9805)
The Mayoress of Fareham Ann Ford and the Mayor of Fareham Mike Ford, opening the new Matalan store. Picture: Sarah Standing (160560-9805)

The store, which used to be a bowling alley, was officially opened by the mayor, Councillor Mike Ford.

The first 50 customers received a voucher and the very first customer was presented with a bunch of flowers.

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Alex Stavron, the area manager for Matalan, said: ‘It’s been a long time coming but we are really excited about opening the store today.

The Mayoress of Fareham Ann Ford and the Mayor of Fareham Mike Ford, opening the new Matalan store. Picture: Sarah Standing (160560-9805)The Mayoress of Fareham Ann Ford and the Mayor of Fareham Mike Ford, opening the new Matalan store. Picture: Sarah Standing (160560-9805)
The Mayoress of Fareham Ann Ford and the Mayor of Fareham Mike Ford, opening the new Matalan store. Picture: Sarah Standing (160560-9805)

‘The retail park is really good. We are on the main road so that will be good for the store and it will be a bit of a hub for the area.’

And Mr Stavron said he is pleased people in the community made the effort to queue up ahead of the opening of the store.

‘It’s really good that we have managed to get people to come to the store and they are obviously excited about us coming to Fareham.’

Around 50 new jobs were created as a result of the store opening.

Go Bowling closed last May after it received no interest from other leisure companies to take over the unit.

Related topics:Fareham