Booths and Waitrose on opening new stores in Warrington

It comes after a letter was sent to the Warrington Guardian by reader Joan James, from Callands, in response to news that Aldi has announced plans to open a new shop at Gemini Retail Park.

Mrs James asked whether there was a need for another discount supermarket, with one less than a mile away at the former Fordton Leisure Centre and a Lidl around in a mile in the other direction at Pink Eye Roundabout.

She also said there is an Asda over the road and plans for another Lidl a few hundred metres away on Omega.

She added: “Could we not have a Waitrose or a Booths instead – a place or a brand which Warrington does not have at the moment, or something else people actually want?”

The letter sparked debate among readers, with Fairfield and Howley resident Catherine Weaver writing a letter in response.

She said that Booths and Waitrose are ‘at the higher end of supermarket chains’ with a particular customer base usually located in more affluent areas such as Knutsford and Hale Barns.

Booths has a store in Knutsford

“While we do have affluent areas of Warrington, the majority of the population are on budgets which now have to include rising fuel prices and interest rates and basically want value for their pound,” she wrote.

Both Booths and Waitrose have now stated whether they would be interested in opening stores in Warrington

A spokesman for Booths said: “Booths is delighted that Mrs James is keen for a Booths in Warrington, and we thank her for her comments.

“Booths has no current plans for stores in that area, but we would welcome shoppers to visit our stores in Hale Barns and Knutsford, and a little further afield in Lancashire and beyond.

“Warrington Guardian readers are always welcome at Booths.”

Meanwhile, a Waitrose spokesman said: “We are currently focused on investment in our existing shops rather than opening any new stores anywhere at this time.”