Camp Hopson celebrates opening its third store at 13-15 Northbrook Street, the former Wilko unit, in Newbury

Camp Hopson celebrated the opening of its newest store with a party that featured product demonstrations, samplings and a couple of glasses of fizz to boot.

Newbury’s only department store expanded earlier this month when it opened its third shop in the town which is located at 13-15 Northbrook Street, the former Wilko unit.

The new Camp Hopson store at 13-15 Northbrook Street
The new Camp Hopson store at 13-15 Northbrook Street

The opening party took place on Thursday, April 18, and hundreds of Newbury shoppers, including Newbury mayor Nigel Foot, poured through the doors to take a look at what the new outlet had to offer.

Morleys Stores (which owns Camp Hopson) CEO Nigel Blow said he was “super excited” for Camp Hopson to be opening another unit in Newbury.

The new Camp Hopson store at 13-15 Northbrook Street
Newbury mayor Nigel Foot and mayoress Sarah Slack with the new store's general manager Jo Wakeman

He said: “We’re bucking the trend really by expanding on the high street.

“Everybody else seems to be going the other way, and for us, we have nine stores, we don’t have a hundred, so we can look after them all a bit more personally.

The new Camp Hopson store at 13-15 Northbrook Street
The new Camp Hopson store at 13-15 Northbrook Street

“In Newbury especially over the past two or three years, the opportunity has become more and more for us to be the sole department store in town.”

The new Northbrook Street store contains several different departments, the highlight being a large toy section at the rear of the retail space.

Jo Wakeman, the general manager of the new Camp Hopson store
The new Camp Hopson store at 13-15 Northbrook Street

The toy department is dominated by a large, fairytale-like tree in the centre which has a number of beanbags spread around it for children and families to relax on.

Several popular toy brands have prominent sections, including the soft toy manufacturer Jellycat, the animal figurine company Sylvanian Families and the construction and imagination juggernaut that is Lego.

The new Camp Hopson store at 13-15 Northbrook Street
The new Camp Hopson store at 13-15 Northbrook Street

Elsewhere in the store, there is an electrical appliance section that stocks brands such as Dyson, Nespresso, Smeg and more, alongside a large bedding section filled with sheets, duvets, cushions and blankets.

Most of the store is dedicated to homeware, with a wide range of different products aimed at all different rooms within the house.

Camp Hopson staff gathered outside the new store

The front of the store is dedicated to gifting, with several different options for those looking to find that special something for that special someone.

These include food and drink items and games, as well as wrapping paper and greetings cards.