FLOOR space in the food hall in Beales store in Hexham is being drastically reduced to make way for award winning fashion outlet Bonmarché.

A huge sign has gone up in the store announcing the imminent arrival of the high street favourite, which prides itself on being “the UK’s largest womenswear value retailer catering for women over 50.”

The reduction in the size of the food hall, and the arrival of the big name retailer will be the first major change at the Hexham store since Beales was taken over by new owners earlier this year.

While Bonmarché continues to remain coy about an opening date, and how many jobs will be created, it is advertising for staff, and an autumn opening date is expected.

Bonmarché was established in 1982 by two brothers who began their business on market stalls and opened their first store in Doncaster.

The business expanded very quickly to a portfolio of over 200 stores, and is now part of the same multi-national group which includes the Alexon and Jacques Vert fashion labels, SCS sofas, American Golf, and Sharps Kitchens and Bedrooms.

The arrival of Bonmarché adds further weight to the feel-good factor surrounding Hexham, with another top retailer White Stuff seeking consent to take over the old Poundstretcher store in Fore Street, and discount store B&M building new premises in Maiden’s Walk – not to mention the many new shops being proposed in the bus station redevelopment scheme.