New B&M and Greggs spotted at Kingwood shopping centre as opening dates confirmed

Two massive high street names are opening at Kingswood's Kings Chase Shopping Centre. British bakery chain Greggs will be opening today (Thursday, April 25) next to Billings Pharmacy, in the site of the former New Look store.

The latest addition to the retail park will house a large seating area, allowing customers to eat in once they've picked up a sausage roll or other baked good. New Look closed after decades at the popular shopping spot in Regent Street, back in summer 2023.

Another popular brand set to open at Kings Chase is B&M, with signage already in place and recruitment ongoing. According to a post from the shopping centre on Facebook yesterday, the new store is scheduled to open its doors on June 14 and "the team are working very hard to get the store up and running".

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B&M will be located on the site of the former Wilko branch. Store front signage reads: "Your new B&M store is coming soon. We can't wait to meet you!"

Wilko in the South Gloucestershire town's centre was among the many which shut last year, closing for the final time on October 3. It has been empty since.

Last year Kingswood shoppers spoke to Bristol Live about how the loss of Wilko, which had been a key anchor store in the shopping centre, would be a "huge loss" for the town centre. The centre itself is set to get a £5.5million upgrade as part of a £25million masterplan for the town, but some people have questioned the pace of improvements almost two years since that plan was unveiled.

Taking to social media to share their thoughts on the news of the new openings, one shopper commented: "This has already made my day!" While a second said: "Christmas sorted" and a third wrote: "It's a date for the diary".

New additions to the town's indoor market have also brought hope for the town's high street. Previously South Gloucestershire Council said it is currently in the process of reviewing all of the comments to a public consultation on town centre improvements, and expects to share the results and next steps in 'early summer 2024'.