Department store’s first days of trade has exceeded expectation

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JOHN Lewis & Partners says trade has got off to a cracking start at its new department store in Cheltenham.

The eagerly anticipated shop in High Street, built on the site of the former Beechwood Shopping Centre at a cost of £23million, opened on October 18.

Branch manager Martin Bundy said: “The first few days of trade in Cheltenham have totally exceeded expectations.

“Customers are telling us they’ve been waiting a long time for John Lewis & Partners to arrive and they’ve overwhelmed us with positive comments about the refurbishment we have done here.

“They certainly love their new shop.”

The company said it did not give out unit sale figures but it was happy to reveal the kind of products that had proved popular so far.

The news that trade has been brisk at the shop is a boost for John Lewis, after it was in the news for less positive reasons.

First it was claimed that someone was found taking cocaine in the toilets on the opening day and that there had been several incidents of shoplifting. The claims were neither confirmed nor denied by John Lewis.

Then there was an issue with part of the main sign above the front entrance store not being fully illuminated.

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