New community SPAR store with a local flavour and a petrol station set to open its doors in Thropton

Anticipation and excitement have been building in Thropton for months since the new 3,000 sq. ft. store and four-pump forecourt was set an opening date of Monday, November 28, at 11am.

Members of Thropton Parish Council and Cllr Steven Bridgett, who represents Rothbury ward on Northumberland County Council, have been chosen to cut the ribbon to open the store before villagers are invited in to take advantage of fantastic opening deals.

The first 50 customers through the doors will get their ‘tea for free’ and Thropton residents will be receiving £5 and £15 SPAR money-off coupons through the post in advance of the store opening.

A Winter Warmer event is also due to be held on Saturday December 3 at the SPAR which is owned by James Hall & Co. Ltd, SPAR UK’s primary wholesaler and distributor for the North of England.

The free event will run from 10am until 12 noon and will feature a choir performance, stalls, a raffle, facepainting, a Father Christmas meet and greet, and the opportunity to have a photo with the SPAR mascot.

SPAR Thropton’s opening hours are 6am-9pm seven days a week, and store features include a Graham Eyes butchers counter and a Clayton Park Deli, as well as Cheeky Coffee and Tango Ice Blast machines for refreshment options.

There is also a comprehensive range of fresh foods, Food To Go, major branded products, and beers, wines and spirits.

Local producers are a key theme to the store range too with Coquet Chocolate, biscuits from the Northumbrian Bakehouse, eggs and honey from Bainbridge Farms, jams and relishes from the Northumbrian Pantry, and sweet treats from Canny Candy Gadgies.

There is also Mocha Mondo coffee, tea from the Northumberland Tea Company, Hepple Spirits, and beers from both the First & Last Brewery and Hadrian Border Brewery all stocked at the SPAR.

Community has been put at the heart of the Thropton opening, and in the build up to the launch day, SPAR has agreed to a range of contributions to support good causes locally.

These include donations towards installing Thropton Village Hall’s defibrillator, Thropton First School’s swimming lesson transport costs, and the erection of a bench to mark the centenary of Thropton’s Women’s Institute.

SPAR has also sponsored Thropton Show’s Fell Race, held in the summer, and has partnered with Visit Northumberland to cater for the tourism industry and support the local economy.

Fiona Drummond, Company Stores Director at James Hall & Co. Ltd, has also been in the area to give educational talks to children at Thropton First School and at Dr Thomlinson Middle School in Rothbury.

Fiona Drummond said: “We are looking forward to serving this rural community in Thropton with our latest company-owned store.

“We have been so warmly received in the village, and the enthusiasm for the opening of our SPAR store has been incredible.

“We have a comprehensive offer with a local flavour that will provide Thropton and the surrounding area with everything it needs, and we cannot wait to open our doors and give local residents a friendly SPAR and James Hall welcome.”

Small touches have also been considered to the environment during construction, with solar panels in the roof of the SPAR store and bird and bat boxes on site to encourage wildlife to flourish.

As well as the four fuel pumps, the Shell forecourt also features water, air and vacuum machines, an ATM, customer toilets, and 17 customer parking spaces. Two EV charge points are installed but may not be operational in time for the opening.

There is also a designated area for dog walkers to leave their dogs while they shop inside the store.

NHS staff can enjoy free coffee for the first six months, and MOD staff with valid ID based at the nearby Otterburn Ranges will receive 10% off their shop, also for the first six months.

James Hall & Co. Ltd serves a network of 600 independent SPAR retailers and company-owned SPAR stores across Northern England six days a week from its base in Preston, Lancashire. For further information about the company, please visit www.jameshall.co.uk.