Waitrose unveils plans for its first ever Nailsea store

In the same week as it revealed it was opening its first store in Bahrain - Waitrose has unveiled plans for its first store in Nailsea, which will create more than 100 new jobs for the community.

The retailer has reached an agreement with The Co-operative Group for the Somerfield store in the High Street and aims to open there by the end of August this year.

Somerfield will continue to trade until Waitrose takes possession of the unit on Thursday, August 12, when it will commence a multi-million pound refurbishment of the building.

The agreement will also see the leaseholds of an office and seven neighbouring retail units come under its ownership. 

Waitrose plans to attract new investment to four of these units, which are currently vacant.  

Up to 100 new jobs are expected to be created at the store in addition to the 63 existing Somerfield employees who will all be offered the opportunity to join the John Lewis Partnership.

As the UK’s largest and oldest example of employee ownership, it will entitle them to a say in how the business is run, shopping and leisure discounts and a share in profits.

This year existing employees received 15 per cent of their annual salary in bonus, the equivalent of eight weeks wages.

Waitrose director of development Nigel Keen said: “There’s a true sense of community associated with Nailsea, which we are delighted to have the opportunity to become a part of.

“The new store will help provide a real boost to the local economy.

“In addition to creating more than 100 new jobs, we aim to encourage new investment in the vacant retail units and will be supporting local projects through our Community Matters initiative.

“The local farmer’s market demonstrates that there is also a shared passion for supporting local producers.

“We are keen to discover more about some of the area’s local treasures so that we may build on the growing number of suppliers in the south west who already supply Waitrose stores.”

Waitrose has more than 200 branches.

It has two stores in Bristol, the first opened in Westbury Park in 1973 and last year it added a second with its convenience store in Clifton. 

Waitrose also opened its first store in Weston-super-Mare in 2009 and the one at Portishead at the Marina.

At a Nailsea Chamber of Trade & Commerce last night people where pleased with the news although there were fears that the older generation who shopped in Somerfield wouldn’t be so happy.

Chairman Janet Hendey, of Wards solicitors, said: “Everyone seemed very positive about Waitrose coming here I am happy to say on behalf of the chamber we look forward to welcoming them.

“It is good for Nailsea and likely to bring more people into the town.”

On the Nailsea People Facebook fan page the reaction was mostly positive.

Gill Followell said: “I think it’s great to have a good quality shop on the High Street.

“It will attract some nice shops.

“In the news recently it was stated that Waitrose have some good offers and so are not as expensive as people perceive.”

And Janet Lindley said: “Brilliant news but will have to increase shopping budget.”

But grandmother Sandra Vick-Thorne said: “Oh dear.

“I remember when Nailsea was just a village with little shops.

“I have live there most of my life and my family still live there .

“People say that Nailsea is posh with lots of money but it is just an ordinary town.

“I now live in Bristol but shop at Asda or Tesco even though we have Waitrose here.

“It is dear - bring back the old shops.”

But Mrs Followell added: “Come on Nailsea, stop moaning and let’s bring the spirit back to the High Street.”

And Ann Brown said: “It’s got to be an improvement.”

While Debbie Holland said: “Wow, this is great news.”

Nailsea Town Council chairman Rod Lees said: “I think it is wonderful news – I have shopped at the Portishead Waitrose.

”The biggest worry was another empty shop in Nailsea;

“Waitrose will bring a slightly different dimension to the town.”

With Store 21 taking over at Ethel Austin, The Groom Room coming to the High Street and The Factory Shop celebrating a successful first year things are looking up, agreed the traders.

Thompson Commercial principal Ian Thompson said: “I think it is great news for the town and will help redress the possible loss of trade to other centres which Somerfield was no longer helping to retain in Nailsea.

“Waitrose does in my view appeal to a larger percentage of the Nailsea demographic profile.

“It will certainly make my job of selling Nailsea to new retailers and businesses much easier,

“You need only look at the other businesses to follow Waitrose into Portishead to see what an impact they can have. I expect a surge of interest in the few remaining vacant units in the town” 

Each Waitrose branch gives away £1,000 every month to local charities and projects through its Community Matters scheme.

The new owners of the shopping precinct Nailsea Unit Trust, who also own the old petrol station, car park and nursing home site, hope to unveil plans for major redevelopment within 18-months.

They have also envoked a break-clause for HSBC bank and rumours still persist that the library will be knocked down.

The company has recently created a bit of a rumpus trying to increase ground rates by more than 400 per cent to pay for updating and maintenance which tenants hope will be resolved at a meeting later this month.