Bangor charity shop reopens just in time for Christmas five months after devastating fire

A Co Down charity shop that was badly damaged by fire over the summer has reopened just in time for Christmas.

The Action Cancer charity shop in the centre of Bangor was destroyed following a devastating fire in June. But thanks to the local community and key businesses, led by Marks & Spencer (M&S), rallying together to provide crucial support, the store has just reopened at temporary premises.

Emergency services were called to the store in the Market Street area in the early hours of Friday, 28th June where they found the shop engulfed in flames. At its peak, four NIFRS crews were in attendance to tackle the blaze. While the fire was extinguished, a substantial amount of damage was caused to the shop.

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The fire left the store manager, Liz Lemon, and the entire Action Cancer team devastated as they faced the challenge of rebuilding their operations from scratch. However, thanks to the tremendous generosity of M&S, the shop has been able to recover and open its doors in a new location on Main Street.

M&S played a pivotal role by donating essential visual merchandising support, including fixtures and displays, and supplying a wide range of stock across womenswear, menswear, and kidswear. This generous contribution ensured the shop had the resources to reopen successfully. Additionally, the retailer provided hands-on assistance in setting up the new location, ensuring a swift and professional recovery.

With support from the Mayor of Ards & North Down, this collective effort has enabled the much-loved shop to welcome customers once again, continuing its vital role in fundraising for cancer services across Northern Ireland.

Store manager Liz expressed her gratitude, saying: “When the fire happened, I was utterly heartbroken, not just for the shop, but for the entire community who rely on us. The support we’ve received has been absolutely overwhelming. M&S stepping in to provide stock and equipment has made an incredible difference, and with the backing of the Mayor, we’re excited to continue serving the community and raising vital funds for Action Cancer.”

Gareth Kirk, Chief Executive of Action Cancer , praised the collaborative effort, adding: “This fire was a massive blow, but the community spirit we’ve witnessed has been truly inspiring. The swift response from M&S, along with the support of local authorities, has enabled us to get back on our feet faster than we could have imagined.

“M&S has been an invaluable partner over the years for our Therapeutic Services, and their continued support in this critical time will ensure that every penny raised in this shop goes towards life-saving services. We are deeply thankful to them for their dedication to Action Cancer.”

The temporary premises, located at 65 Main Street in Bangor, marks a new chapter for the shop and Action Cancer Retail in its mission to continue raising vital funds for the charity’s cancer prevention, detection, and support services.

Ryan Lemon, Regional Manager for M&S in Northern Ireland, added:“ At M&S, we believe in making a positive impact in the communities we serve. As Action Cancer’s regional charity partner, we were eager to help when we heard about the fire at the Bangor shop.

“It’s been a privilege to provide the equipment and stock needed to get them back up and running. We’re proud to stand with Action Cancer and support their incredible work across Northern Ireland.”

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