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09
Dec
Harrogate’s Tesco superstore officially opens
After months of anticipation, Harrogate’s first Tesco superstore finally opened this morning (December 9).
Not even the miserable weather could deter eager customers from queuing outside the store before doors officially opened at 8am.
Staff and customers cheered as the town’s mayor, Liberal Democrat councillor Chris Aldred, cut the red ribbon to mark the occasion.
With a huge range of food and drinks, health and beauty products, homeware, F&F clothing, electricals, seasonal gifts and an in-store coffee shop, shoppers won't be short of choice.
The new store also features a community garden brought to life by local charity Horticap, as well as a pay-at-pump-only petrol station.
The store’s general manager, Annabelle Speed, who relocated from Manchester to Harrogate for the role, told the Stray Ferret 181 jobs have been created and staff have spent around three weeks preparing the inside of the 250,000 sq ft store.
She said:
It was an amazing turnout. There were queues outside the door, which we love to see. We’re really chuffed.
The un-manned petrol station, which is pay-at-pump only.
Ms Speed added there are 220 car parking spaces at the site, including EV charging, disabled and parent-and-child bays.
Tesco brands the new supermarket as a low carbon concept store, but what does that really mean?
Ms Speed told the Stray Ferret:
Inside the shop, we’ve got recycled shelving and Yorkshire stone has been re-used outside. We’ve used locally sourced timber and have solar panels on the roof. There is rainwater harvesting to flush the toilets, which is different and quite exciting.
The heating is also powered by the chillers.
The in-store coffee shop.
Aldi and Co-op are just a stone’s throw from the new Tesco store, which is the latest addition to Harrogate’s wide range of supermarkets. When the Stray Ferret asked Ms Speed what sets the Skipton Road store apart, she said:
I really hope that Tesco has a reputation of being warm and friendly. Our service is great, our prices are good and competitive, and we really look after people from both a colleague and customer perspective.
Inside the new Tesco superstore.
‘It’s marvellous – better than Aldi’
The roadworks associated with the new store have been a bone of contention over recent months, with one local shopkeeper telling the Stray Ferret footfall was so low she was forced to forgo her salary.
But the queue of customers outside the supermarket this morning indicated people were keen to experience the new store. So, what did they think?
Lilian Tuff, who said she lives a short distance from the Skipton Road store, told the Stray Ferret the supermarket is “marvellous – better than Aldi”.
She added:
I wanted to come as it was opening to see what it’s like. It’s absolutely brilliant and I’ll be coming again. It’s very clean and the staff are very nice, coming to see if they can help.
We were just really pleased we were getting another [supermarket]… competition.
Another local resident named Jane told the Stray Ferret she was “a bit against” the Tesco superstore when it was first announced some years ago.
“I thought we didn’t really need more development but at the end of the day we’ve got more houses at this side of town now, so it makes sense”, Jane said.
She added the supermarket is “nicely laid out” and there were “lots of staff to help out”.
The Skipton Road Tesco opens daily from 6am until midnight. It will open from 10am until 4pm on Sundays.
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