A new SPAR store in Bishop Auckland will soon open its doors after the £3 million complete redevelopment of a former pub.

Located in Brooklands, the SPAR store has breathed new life into old The Aclet pub site, and the new convenience store will open its doors to the public at 11am on Tuesday 13th December.

The new SPAR store will feature a Clayton Park Deli serving a range of hot foods and freshly made-to-order Food To Go from both the hot and cold counters.

The Northern Echo:

Adjacent to the Deli, a range of self-serve Graham Eyes meats will satisfy those customers seeking quality at great value prices.

The SPAR has a variety of refreshment options too with Cheeky Coffee unit and popular F’Real Milkshakes and Smoothies and Tango Ice Blast machines.

Sitting alongside these main store features will be a comprehensive range of fresh foods, major branded products, and a wide range of beers, wines and spirits.

In a nod to the site’s past, the lion emblems set into the pub walls have been retained as original features during building work.

The Northern Echo: Opening the store will be the Mayor of Bishop Auckland, Cllr Michael Siddle, and the first 50 customers through the doors will get their ‘tea for free’. Residents local to the SPAR will also be receiving £5 and £15 SPAR money-off coupons through the post in advance of the store’s launch.

Complementing the opening will be a Father Christmas meet and greet that will take place on Saturday 17th December at the store from 10am until 12 noon.

Ahead of the launch day, SPAR has become a corporate sponsor of the Angel Trust and has sponsored Bishop Auckland Football Club with two pitch side boards, demonstrating its support to local causes.

The Northern Echo:

SPAR Bishop Auckland is owned and serviced by James Hall & Co. Ltd, SPAR UK’s primary wholesaler and distributor for Northern England, and is open from 7am until 10.30pm seven days a week.

Fiona Drummond, Company Stores Director at James Hall & Co. Ltd, said: “Our Bishop Auckland SPAR store has been years in the making and we are finally ready to open our doors to the community.

“We really feel our range is perfectly tailored to the needs of residents in the locality, and as well as providing a great offer, we are proud to have supported a couple of great causes in Bishop Auckland with sponsorship of both the Angel Trust and football club.”  

The Northern Echo:

Free Cheeky Coffee cards will be available to customers during the first two weeks of opening. Coffee will be provided free of charge for emergency service workers for the first six months of opening, and there is 10% off for NHS staff with valid ID over the same period.