Pupils from Hale Prep School were on hand to help officially open the new M&S Food Hall in Hale today.
The Ashley Road store finally opened on the site of the former Co-op at 10am, with 200 customers welcomed within the first hour of business.
Store manager Liz Rushton and some of her 50 staff joined Hale Prep School pupil Hannah Burns, 6, who had won a competition to create a new Coat of Arms shield for the store.
Hannah’s winning shield, featuring the iconic Millennium Clock Tower situated in the centre of Hale, was unveiled this morning as part of the opening.
The Hale Preparatory School Choir – alongside M&S food favourites Colin the Caterpillar and Percy Pig – helped to entertain customers while they shopped in store.
Mr John Connor, Headmaster of Hale Prep School, said: “Hannah was delighted to be chosen as the winner of the ‘Coat of Arms’ competition and will I’m sure derive many hours of pleasure from her new ‘Frozen Activity Box’ she has received as her prize.”
Store manager Liz Rushton added: “Hannah’s design really stood out to us; we loved the colours that she used to make it visually appealing along with how she united key M&S characters with Hale’s most iconic building to celebrate M&S opening in the area.
“We look forward to getting to know the rest of our community in the coming weeks.”
The new 6,500 sq ft Food Hall features over 4,200 food and drink products, an in-store bakery and a Collect in Store service.
Opening hours at the new store will be 8am–8pm, Monday to Friday, 8am-7pm on Saturday and 10am–4pm on Sundays.
