The final touches are being made to the new Waitrose store in Swindon following a three-month build.

The new Mill Lane branch in Wichelstowe will be officially unveiled by Robert Buckland MP at 8am on Thursday, April 10. He will join branch manager Ian Smith and his new team in welcoming the store’s first customers. 

It is the realisation of a long-standing ambition by Waitrose to have a store in Swindon and marks a significant milestone for the development being carried out in the area.

It will be run by a team of almost 200 Partners, with 95 per cent of them living locally, and the branch will also be taking on two apprentices in Customer Services and Operations.

The new branch will feature meat, fish, and cheese counters, as well as a café, bakery, and fresh juice bar.

Customers will also be able to enjoy a range of dining areas throughout the store, each offering different culinary delights, including salads, baguettes and deli platters.

Local produce will also be available, including beers from Swindon’s family brewery - Arkell’s, and tasty treats from the Bertinet Bakery.

Outdoor gardening products will also be available, showcasing the Flower Garden range, as well as gift wrapping and Dry Cleaning services.

The Waitrose Delivery Service will operate in Swindon, providing shoppers with the option to have their purchases delivered to their homes at a convenient time.

Waitrose Swindon will be supporting the Canal Trust, Commonweal School and the East Wichel Community Association, as the first local causes to benefit from its Community Matters ‘green token’ scheme.

At the end of the month, £1,000 will be divided between the three charities according to the number of tokens received from customers. Customers can nominate different charities each month, resulting in a total of £12,000 donated each year.

From opening, the shop will also be launching its Partner volunteering initiatives which will see 250 staff working hours a year donated to local projects and causes.

Robert Buckland MP said: "I'm delighted that Waitrose is coming to Swindon, and to Wichelstowe in particular. This significant investment in the town by such a high-profile company is a big vote of confidence in our local economy."

Ian Smith, opening branch manager at Waitrose Swindon added: “Waitrose Swindon will be at the heart of the Wichelstowe community and we are excited to be part of the new development, which represents a huge investment into the local area.

“We have a great team in place, and can’t wait to open the doors and greet our new customers. We have taken on two apprentices and 95 per cent of our Partners live locally.

“We’d like to thank everyone that has shown their support and given us a warm welcome in Swindon. We’re committed to the town and looking forward to playing our part in attracting even more shoppers to the area.”