Bishop Auckland Boyes to open doors on 19 November

Boyes fascia

Boyes, the Scarborough-based variety retailer, has revealed that its latest store – in Bishop Auckland’s old Woolies premises – will open for business on Friday 19 November.

With Woolworths gone, Bishop Auckland’s retail focus has been in danger of gravitating too far towards the Newgate Centre and Marks & Spencer. However, the arrival of Boyes – a move apparently welcomed by other retailers in the town – should help to restore the balance by giving a boost to the southern end of Newgate Street.

Boyes site in Newgate Street, Bishop Auckland (6 Feb 2010)

Bishop Auckland is Boyes’ fourth store opening of 2010, bringing its total to 40 across Teesside, County Durham, Cumbria, Yorkshire, Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire.

In June, Boyes opened up on the former Woolworths site in Cleethorpes, closely followed, in August, by a new store in the old Sunwin House premises in Brighouse, West Yorkshire. Most recently, in October, a branch opened on the site of Ilkley’s former Westgate Department Store.

Though I understand that no more openings are imminent, Boyes has previously shown interest in expanding into Northumberland – coming close to opening a shop in Prudhoe – and on to Tyneside. With its eclectic, 30,000-strong product range – including household goods, DIY, clothing, homewares, toys and stationery – Boyes is a northern success story that could be just the tonic some of our region’s high streets need.