Shoppers head in droves to new Stubbington hospice shop

The Rowans Hospice unveiled its new homeware store at 27 Stubbington Green to residents with Councillor Connie Hockley, the Mayor of Fareham, cutting a green ribbon to officially open the store.

The charity, which already has 20 stores in the area, looks after those with life-limiting illnesses at its Purbrook hospice. After its 11am opening, the store was flooded with residents, with the queue for the counter winding out of the shop.

Teresa Davies, store manager said: ‘It is absolutely buzzing in here which is wonderful.

‘We have been so excited about the opening and for days we’ve had people come along and tell us all about how eager they are to see what we have in store.

‘We want to be known as something a bit more than just a charity shop.’

The hospice targeted Stubbington believing it to have a gap in the market for homeware and the store will sell various items of kitchen equipment, children’s clothing as well as upcycled furniture and craft materials.

Depending on the stores initial success, art and craft workshops could be set up to run on a frequent basis.

Joy Springett, 78, from Catisfield, Fareham, is a volunteer in the shop.

She said: ‘Rowans Hospice really do some extraordinary things and they looked after my brother, Dennis, last year.’

Dennis Rogers, 81, died last year from prostate cancer.

‘I thought that it would be a great time to get involved and give something back to those that helped him out,’ said Joy.

Cllr Hockley said: ‘It is really lovely in here.

‘There’s so much that I would love to buy, I think it is brilliant that this kind of shop has opened up here in Stubbington.’

The shop neighbours the Barnado’s unit and Sue Ryder store and Cllr Hockley believes it will add ‘something new’ to the Stubbington shopping experience.

She added: ‘There’s clearly a big buzz in the village about having the store here.

‘If it stays as busy as this then they will do incredibly well.’