A BRAND new Home Bargains store will be opening up in West Berkshire this weekend.

Home Bargains will officially open its doors at 8am on Saturday, October 16 in Newbury Retail Park.

The store opening will see 45 new jobs available in the local community with the store planning to employ 48 team members.

The new Newbury store will join over 575 outlets across the UK.

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Opening approximately 50 stores a year, Home Bargains is bucking current trends in the industry.

Benjamin Canning, the new Newbury store manager, said: “I started my Home Bargains journey in 2020 and will be transferring to Newbury from our Swindon store. Although I’ve held the position of store manager before, helping to launch the Newbury Retail Park site will be a first for me.

“Having worked in the retail sector for many years, it’s a huge honour to be opening our new store this weekend and something that I’m exceptionally proud of.”

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The 19,978 sq ft store, which formerly housed New Look and Next, will offer shoppers a range of products, including homewares, health and beauty essentials, sweets, snacks and drinks, as well as fresh and frozen food.

Canning added: “Newbury Retail Park will be a great location for us and we’re proud to be able to offer local people top-branded goods at exceptionally low prices.”

It will also be donating £2,000 to local charity, Prior’s Court, which provides education and residential care for children and young adults aged 5 to 25 years, with complex autism.

Jill McDonagh, corporate fundraising manager at Prior’s Court, said: “We are extremely grateful to Home Bargains for this very generous donation to mark the opening of its new store.

“This donation will help us with building a brighter, more independent future for these young people who, due to the complexity of their needs, require 24/7 care and support. Money raised for us helps us to fund transformational projects, pay for specialist equipment and activities, and help ensure we can make a real difference to the lives of our young people and their families.”