Home Bargains Brent Cross is about to throw open its doors: north-west London bargain hunters can start the countdown, with the brand-new £1 million store at Staples Corner Retail Park opening this Saturday.
The discount favourite is moving into the former Argos unit at Staples Corner Retail Park — right next door to HomeSense — with the tills ringing for the first time at 8am on Saturday, 10 October.
The 10,549 sq ft store has created 65 new jobs for the local area, and bosses say the team is raring to welcome shoppers through the doors.
Store manager Szilvia Szajcz said: “We are excited to welcome our customers, become part of the local community and provide an excellent shopping experience. I am particularly proud of the team’s commitment, enthusiasm and hard work throughout the journey. We look forward to serving our customers and building a successful future together.”
The Liverpool-based chain, founded in 1976 by Tom Morris and still family-run, has grown into one of the UK’s biggest privately owned retailers, with more than 650 stores nationwide. Its promise of top brands at bottom prices has made it a fixture of retail parks and high streets alike.
The £1 million investment underlines the chain’s confidence in London’s retail parks, which have proved resilient even as traditional high streets have struggled. Out-of-town sites with easy parking and big footprints have become prime territory for value retailers.
What’s inside the new store
Home Bargains has built its reputation on discounted household goods, seasonal ranges and big-name brands at rock-bottom prices — and the Brent Cross branch will be no different.
Shoppers can expect everything from beauty sets and electrical goods to curtains, bedding and garden essentials, alongside snacks, drinks and fresh and frozen food. With Halloween just around the corner, the shelves are also expected to be stacked with spooky decorations and sweets.
Regulars will know the drill: the aisles mix everyday essentials with one-off special buys, from toys and pet supplies to DIY bits and cleaning products, while the food hall covers both cupboard staples and chilled and frozen lines.
The arrival has already caused a stir locally. Writing on the Nextdoor app, one resident said: “We will be spoilt for choice for a change,” while another added: “Boom, can’t wait, my to go place soon.” A third wrote: “Wow!! Excellent news about the B&M and Home Bargains!!” — a nod to a new B&M store also said to be on its way in Willesden.
A boost for Brent Cross
The opening is another feather in the cap for Brent Cross, one of London’s best-known shopping destinations, with Staples Corner Retail Park sitting just off the A5 and minutes from the main shopping centre.
The move gives a new lease of life to a unit left empty by Argos, as the catalogue retailer continues to shift its focus into Sainsbury’s supermarkets. Staples Corner has long been a handy alternative to the main shopping centre for bulky buys, with its cluster of big-box retailers drawing drivers from across north London.
The area is gearing up for a bumper autumn and winter season — Brent Cross ice rink returns this month, with £10 early-bird tickets already on sale — and the arrival of a big-name discount retailer is expected to pull in even more footfall.
The wider Brent Cross area is in the middle of a major transformation, with the Brent Cross Town regeneration promising thousands of new homes, workspace and parkland over the coming years.
Discount retail on the rise in London
Home Bargains’ arrival forms part of an ambitious expansion drive, with the chain aiming to open around 50 new stores a year.
And it is far from the only discount retailer betting big on the capital. Aldi is opening 30 new shops in just 10 weeks, with a new Willesden store joining the London rush, as supermarkets and bargain chains race to meet demand from cost-conscious shoppers.
Value retailers have been among the few bright spots on Britain’s high streets in recent years, expanding while bigger names have retrenched. The combination of branded goods at discount prices and a treasure-hunt shopping experience keeps customers coming back even as online competition intensifies.
Getting there
The new store is at Staples Corner Retail Park, Brent Cross, and opens at 8am on Saturday, 10 October, with on-site parking for shoppers arriving by car. Those travelling by road should allow extra time — repair works on the A41 Brent Cross flyover are set to cause disruption for up to two years.
Doors open at 8am sharp — and if the excitement on Nextdoor is anything to go by, there could well be a queue.
