Poundland, based at former Wilko in Worcester High Street, now open

Early morning customers were greeted at the doors as the new Poundland store opened at 8am on Saturday morning, (October 7). 

It has been a quick turnaround at the store after Poundland owner Pepco agreed to buy up to 71 Wilko stores - including Worcester's - following the collapse of that chain last month. 

Poundland in The Shambles closed in March 2020 while the city's second store in Broad Street remains closed as building work continues to make the structure safe.

Alex Ward, store manager of the new shop, told us everything had gone well with their opening. 

OPEN: The new Poundland is open (Image: Sam Greenway/Newsquest)"Customer response to Poundland coming back to Worcester has been extremely positive from the offset," he said. 

"After a period of almost three years we are delighted to welcome customers back into our newly refitted store. 

TILLS: The tills at Poundland Worcester (Image: Sam Greenway/Newsquest)"Everything has gone extremely well, customers are delighted, and the team are all positive."

Mr Ward told us the store is employing 16 staff to run the shop between the hours of 8am to 6pm Monday to Saturday, 10.30am to 4.30 on Sundays. 

Mr Ward added: "At the moment we are concentrating on our core Poundland range, but also with the exciting line of Pepco fashion for women and children."

CLOTHES: The clothes on sale at the store (Image: Sam Greenway/Newsquest)

One of the first customers, Stephen Attwood who lives in Warndon, said it was good to see a shop not sitting empty after the collapse of Wilko. 

"High Street's have been struggling," he said. 

READ MORE: Worcester and Droitwich Wilko's to become Poundland stores

READ MORE: Poundland signs go up at former Wilko

"We have usually had to go to the Malvern one. It's a big store.

"I'm glad it's open here, it didn't take them long to get it open."

We had a look around the store finding a mix of confectionary, clothing, electrical items, household and kitchen items as well as children's toys. 

TOYS: The children's toys at Poundland (Image: Sam Greenway/Newsquest)

And the store even has sections dedicated to Halloween and Christmas.

HALLOWEEN: The halloween aisle at the Poundland (Image: Sam Greenway/Newsquest)

CHRISTMAS: The Christmas aisle at the new Poundland (Image: Sam Greenway/Newsquest)

Customers are also likely to notice the change in layout from the previous Wilko with tills now on the right-hand side of the unit at the front instead of at the back.