New Budgens opens in Horsham

Shelley’s News, in Coltsfoot Drive, has undergone a major redevelopment project as it merged with the Spar store next door last month.

The new combined store has re-opened under the name of Shelley’s Budgens and dozens of excited shoppers queued outside for the grand opening.

Store manager Chris Shelley, said: “We are delighted. I think we first started talking about it four or five years ago and the building work has taken another six weeks so it has been long project.

“It has been worthwhile. It is a huge improvement on the old stores that we had before and I think we have set the shops up for the future.”

The store was opened by Sioux Winn and Pam Day, two members of staff who between them worked at the previous newsagents for more than 35 years.

As well as the usual groceries the store will also be offering fresh local products including sausages from Horsham and eggs from Cowfold.

The new shop will still contain the Post Office services and has expanded the opening hours.

Phil Shelley, owner, explained a falling interest in newsagents had led to the store expansion and added he was very happy with the new shop.

He said: “The staff have been so excited. I have seen a lot of people who have come down today and they are very excited as well.”

Mike Baker, Budgens director said: “Shelley’s Budgens of Holbrook is a fantastic new store. It’s great to see Phil and Chris joining the Budgens family and I’m delighted to be working with them.

“They have extensive experience in serving their local communities and I’m sure they will make this store a great success.”

The Shelley’s have been trading in the Horsham district for more than 60 years.

Their first shop was opened in the 1950s in Warnham by Norman Shelley, father of Phil and grandfather of Chris.

The store was a traditional village newsagent’s shop with sweets by the quarter pound.

Two more shops were opened by the family in the 1960s in Broadbridge Heath and Horsham before Phil went on to open another couple of stores including the one in Coltsfoot Drive.

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