Bolton’s new Regenerage superstore is far from your average charity shop. Not only does the superstore at Middlebrook Retail Park have an entire wedding section, it also has rails upon rails dedicated to designer gear.
On its opening day last month (March 20) hundreds of people queued outside its doors in a bid to be the first to get their hands on a bargain.
When I visited a week later it was easy to see why. Housed in the former Laura Ashley unit, the spacious Horwich store stocks a huge array of items at cut prices - from white goods, including washing machines and dishwashers, to furniture, children’s toys and clothes for every occasion.
Spanning almost 11,000 square feet, the fresh store defies all stereotypes of dingy charity shops and boasts its own specially-created bridal and occasionwear department brimming with pre-loved items for weddings and proms, many of which have been donated after just one wear.
Among the rails of pristine gowns I spotted wedding dresses for under £100, bridesmaid and prom dresses for less than £20 and children's dresses for just £14.99. Within the hidden gems was a Vera Wang co*cktail dress for just £39.99 and a wedding dress by the celebrity-loved designer Oksana Mukha for just £150. Other wedding dresses included gowns by Sophia Tolli and Madeline Gardner.
Savvy brides could purchase an entire wedding day outfit from the store for less than £150, with dresses at £99.99, tiaras costing £3.99, shoes for £9.99, veils priced at £14.99, shawls for £11.99 and bags for just £4.99.
For those looking for outfits ahead of wedding season, or teens looking for the perfect prom dress, there are rails of dresses by big names including Coast, Phase Eight, Gina Bacconi, Jaeger, Whistles and Lipsy as well as a stand filled with hats.
Men are not left out of the store’s formalwear offering with a range of designer suits and shirts stocked from the likes of Hugo Boss, DKNY, Ralph Lauren and even Balmain.
Casual clothes, work outfits and even gym wear are also stocked at the store, with an Adidas running tee-shirt priced at £9.99 and Nike leggings with a price tag of £7.99 in stock when I visited. Within the large shoe collection I eyed one pair of heels by the Milan fashion house Moschino with the box for just £19.99.
For first-time buyers, or just anyone looking for some new furniture, there are dining tables and cabinets at the shop costing as little as £39.99 and a brand new washing machine priced £265.
Families can meanwhile find a large range of children’s clothes, toys and books with baby grows for as little as 59p.
During my visit the staff were welcome and friendly despite being rushed off their feet restocking the shelves and rails.
Bel Fry, director of retail at Regenerage, told me the store has been ‘ransacked’ by shoppers since opening.
She said: “It’s been out of this world, we’ve been ransacked. The response has been phenomenal and beyond our expectations.
“On the first day there were 300 hundred people queuing, last Saturday there were queues at the changing rooms and the tills. For a charity shop to have a bank with three tills on is something else.
“What’s really good to see is we have an entire section of books for young readers and we can’t keep it full.”
Bev Green, from Bolton, who was one of the shoppers browsing the aisles, said: “It’s the first time I’ve been. The wedding dress section is a really good idea. I gave my wedding dress away. I wanted somebody else to get pleasure from it."
Fellow shopper Caroline Marland, also from Bolton, added: “It’s lovely, very spacious everything is beautiful.The wedding section is absolutely stunning. I saw one dress for £150 and thought if I know anyone who is getting married I will definitely let them know.”
Another shopper who did not give her name, said: “People spend a couple of hundred on prom dresses and there’s one here for £10.99. For a lot of people at school their mums and dads can’t afford an expensive dress so it’s a really good idea.”
Previously known as Age Concern Lancashire, the Regenerage charity helps support older people in Lancashire to live well and age well. Since launching in 1981, the charity has spent more than £42m on activities supporting older people in the area. The charity runs separately from Age UK, which is the merger between Age Concern and Help the Aged.
Furniture donations are needed for the Bolton store with details on how to donate items found on the Regenerage website.
The Regenerage store is at Middlebrook Retail Park, 37 The Linkway, Middlebrook, Horwich, Bolton, BL6 6JA.
