A new Lidl has opened at Reading Retail Park on Oxford Road, serving people in West Reading and Tilehurst. It’s the supermarket’s fourth store in the town and includes the usual food, groceries and a bakery, with exclusive discounts for Lidl Plus app users.
The store was officially opened in a ribbon-cutting ceremony by Tilehurst Panthers Girls Football Club. The club posted on Facebook:
"A group of our brilliant players were invited to help officially open the brand-new Lidl store in Tilehurst — and they absolutely smashed it.
"A mix of U8s to U12s were given full VIP treatment.
"They were the very first customers through the doors, enjoyed a guided tour of the shop and warehouse, and then took centre stage to cut the ribbon and welcome the public inside.
"Each girl received a goody bag for their efforts, and every single one of them represented the club with pride, confidence, and smiles all round.
"We’re incredibly fortunate to be involved in community events like this.
"A huge thank you to Luke and the team at Lidl for the invitation — and congratulations on getting the new store up and running. It looks fantastic."
The fit-out, which merged two existing retail units, finished last month and the store opened on Thursday, February 26. The unit was previously occupied by Wrens Kitchens, which relocated to Reading Gateway in August 2018. The new Lidl was created following the merger of the former Halfords and CarpetRight stores; Halfords had downsized into a smaller unit in July last year.
Reading Retail Park is now fully occupied, with other tenants including B&M, Pets at Home, The Gym Group, Wickes and a KFC drive-thru.
The three other Lidl stores in Reading are on Bath Road, 291 Oxford Road and Basingstoke Road, with additional stores in Woodley and Shinfield. The opening at Reading Retail Park comes amid a wider expansion, with 19 new Lidl stores planned in the first quarter of the year.
Richard Taylor, Chief Real Estate Officer at Lidl GB, said: "We’re starting the new year as we mean to go on, with a major investment that reinforces our commitment to delivering the best experience for customers and creating a positive impact for the communities we serve. With this push, we’re set on winning more shoppers across the nation and claiming an even bigger share of the market."
James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporter
Help Shape New Garden Village Near Reading
