Work underway to transform gutted Next store into new Home Bargains

Set to be opened on February 26, the budget homeware chain takes over the previous Next store in the Peel Centre.

With work beginning in October 2021, builders have been busy turning the 20,000 square feet space around before the opening at the end of next month.

The budget homeware chain promises 'top brands and bottom prices' with signs already in place.

A spokesperson from Home Bargains said: “We’re pleased to confirm our new Bracknell store is due to open on 26th February 2022. This is our first store in the Bracknell area, and we are looking forward to welcoming customers to the store very soon.

“We will be creating in excess of 40 new jobs for the local community and will soon be recruiting for store supervisors, store assistants and store cleaners.”

During a walk around of the new space, Rob Turner, the foreman, said: “We’ve got five weeks till we hand over. This is a small store believe it or not as it’s only 20,000 square feet.

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“Some of the sites have a bakery and click and collect but it depends where in the country they are.

“I think that people will be excited to see it in town and the first three or four weeks will be absolutely packed. When the one in Thornbury opened you couldn’t get in the car park.”

The main Next store was closed on September 13, 2020 after the lease on the unit expired.

But shoppers can still go to the newer Next store in The Lexicon.

Bracknell shoppers were elated when they first found out the opening date of Home Bargains in October.

At that time, Julie Ann told the News: "I was so excited when I saw the sign in the window last night.

"I keep going to Basingstoke as it’s a bigger store than Reading and can’t wait for this to open.”

Once it opens, Home Bargains’ usual range of items will see 30 per cent of the floor space being turned over for the sale of food.