SHOPPERS have given the new Poundland facing Bolton Town Hall a resounding thumbs up.

The store, in Victoria Square, opened yesterday and there were plenty of customers to keep the tills of the national discount chain’s newest outlet jingling.

The store, next to Specsavers, has replaced the previous one in Newport Street and staff have been redeployed in the newer, larger shop.

Pensioner Nora Walker, who was visiting the store with husband Bob, said: “We come in to town regularly and used the one in Newport Street.

“There are many things you can buy in there you can’t get anywhere else for the same money.

“It’s cheaper to buy things like sugar there than at any of the big supermarkets.”

Mr Walker added: “You can’t blame people for shopping in there when money is as tight as it is. All right, the town centre is not what it used to be, but we find it easy to come in here and buy things from there.”

Suzann Murphy hailed the low cost of Poundland’s products after leaving the shop.

“I think it is a valuable addition to what the town centre can offer,” she said.

“I don’t care about people who look down their noses at pound shops.


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“It sells things that lots of people need, cheaper than anywhere else. I went in for baby stuff and sweets. And they had bacon fries, which I couldn’t get from any other shop.”

Mother-of-three Leoni Kelly was visiting a Poundland outlet for the first time, and said: “It’s a fine looking shop. It’s bright, clean and doesn’t really feel like a discount store at all — until you get to the till.”

Poundland was launched 23 years ago by Dave Dodd and Stephen Smith, specialising in kitchenware, gifts, healthcare and other products.

Its chief executive is James McCarthy who left his role as managing director at Sainsbury’s to take over from Mr Dodd in 2006.