Member Article

Member News: Discount retailer opens in Newcastle’s old Woolworths store

A discount variety store has taken over the former Woolworths site in Newcastle’s Clayton Street - nearly three years after Woolies shut up shop for the last time.

Discount UK opened its doors today (Friday 4 November), following a two-month-long refurbishment of the premises, with stilt walkers and free sweets on hand to welcome shoppers. The new store stocks more than 5,000 products, including groceries, snacks, confectionery, toiletries, Christmas decorations and household items.

Owned by the single-price retailer Poundworld, the multi-price Discount UK fascia was launched in Leeds in October last year. The format includes more than 4,000 products priced at a pound or less, but also allows Poundworld to sell a wider range of products costing up to £25.

Newcastle is the North East’s second Discount UK store, after the first - also in a former Woolworths unit - opened in Middlesbrough’s Hillstreet shopping centre in April.

Tyneside-based retail consultant Graham Soult, who tracks the fortunes of ex-Woolworths sites in his blog, Soult’s Retail View, today welcomed the news of Discount UK’s opening.

“In one form or another, Woolworths was an institution in Newcastle city centre for nearly a century. The city’s original Woolworths store was in Northumberland Street - where Peacocks is today - where it traded from 1913 until 1984.

“Clayton Street’s Woolies opened later - in 1928 - but served the city for eighty years. It’s not surprising that its closure left a big hole at that end of town.

“Discount UK’s arrival will bring some life back to a neglected part of Clayton Street, and reinforce that area’s attraction as a value retail destination. Many shoppers are looking for value right now, and Discount UK’s vote of confidence in Newcastle city centre can only be a good thing.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Graham Soult .