Some five years after planning permission was first granted to build the store on the site of the old Hucknall Town FC ground, VIPs including town MP Michelle Welsh (Lab), Hucknall West county councillor Christopher Adegoke (Ref) and Ashfield Council chair Coun Paul Grafton (Ash Ind), helped cut the ribbon to hand the store over to the management, staff and customers.
Prior to the opening, shoppers were serenaded by Hucknall Ukulele Group and the children’s choir from Hucknall National Primary School – with the supermarket giant then handing over a bumper donation of £999 to the school when they had finished.
Residents then headed inside to get not only their weekly shop, but also grab some opening-day goodies and bargains, including flat screen TVs.
Shoppers all agreed that it was ‘fantastic’ to see the store open at last, with one saying it was ‘just what we need here’.
1. Official opening of the new Lidl on Watnall Road, Hucknall.
Special guests including Hucknall MP Michelle Welsh, county councillor Chris Adegoke and Ashfield Council chair Paul Grafton helped cut the ribbon. Photo: Brian Eyre
2. Official opening of the new Lidl on Watnall Road, Hucknall.
Plenty of shoppers were queuing up outside ready for the big opening. Photo: Brian Eyre
3. Official opening of the new Lidl on Watnall Road, Hucknall.
As soon as the doors opened, people streamed inside to get their weekly shop - and snap up some special bargains. Photo: Brian Eyre
4. Official opening of the new Lidl on Watnall Road, Hucknall.
Pupils from Hucknall National School sang for customers before the big opening. Photo: Brian Eyre