Mixed reactions as new Lidl opens in intu Uxbridge
- Sophie Harris and Isobel Dawe
- Mar 1, 2019
- 2 min read
Photos: @BalconyShirts on Twitter.
Discount supermarket chain Lidl opened in intu Uxbridge shopping centre yesterday after four months of construction.
Customers were invited to attend the ribbon-cutting ceremony and were able to sample some of Lidl’s products throughout the day.
The new store has created around 40 new jobs and features an in-store bakery.
But reaction to the opening was mixed with some people welcoming it as a great addition whilst others questioned the need for it.
Chenise Smith, 18, Law student at Brunel said: “I think the store is convenient for those that live closer to town. Also, it will bring more jobs, which is always great for students. Tesco will now have some competition in town.”
The German retailer occupies one floor of what was the BHS site and Disney store, becoming one of the 720 stores in the UK, since opening in 1994.
@sueyoung72 on twitter said: “I don’t think this is a good move, why on earth would you put a food store right in the middle of a shopping centre, I could think of much better stores to go there.”
Laurie Taylor, general manager at Intu Uxbridge said: “We’re thrilled to welcome Lidl to the centre, and expand our customer experience to the grocery market.”
There are 16 in West London alone and that includes a store less than a mile away from Intu, which has an on-site car park as well as longer opening hours. There is also a Lidl in Hayes and one in South Ruislip which opened just last year.
Josh Mouzouris, 20, History student at Brunel said: “This is a strange idea as there are already popular supermarkets in Uxbridge.
“The placement of the shop is odd, in a shopping centre, usually known as a retail destination, I cannot understand why a Lidl store would generate any business there.”
The store will be open Monday-Friday from 9:30-7pm with late night shopping on a Thursday open until 8pm. On Saturdays, it will be open from 9am-7pm and Sunday 11am-5pm.
For more information on intu Uxbridge: https://intu.co.uk/uxbridge