AFTER a five month delay, Taunton's new Hobbycraft is finally set to open next week.

The arts and crafts store will launch in Deane Retail Park on Tuesday, September 22.

The new branch had been set to open in April, but was delayed by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The store will create 16 new jobs in the area, with Hobbycraft bosses reporting that more than 160 people applied for a role at the store.

Customers will be able to get a sneak preview of the new store on the Hobbycraft Facebook page on Monday, September 21, as store manager, Tina, and seasonal buyer, Samantha Shiers, will host a Facebook Live to showcase the new store.

Tina said: “We are really looking forward to opening the doors to our Taunton store and share our passion for arts and crafts with the community.

"We’ve been working really hard to ensure that the store will be packed full of the most exciting crafting products, which will help our customers create handmade masterpieces, whilst keeping in line with the new government guidelines.

"Our new colleagues are all dedicated crafters and are ready to inspire and share their knowledge with locals of all crafting abilities.”

Some of Hobbycraft Taunton crafting experts include papercraft specialist Ellie, who specialises in Cricut, sewing expert Kim who has a passion for watercolour painting, and Tracey, the in-store cross stitch expert.

Coronavirus guidelines will be in place when the store opens.

These include:

  • A queue management system outside the store with social distancing markers
  • A dedicated colleague will be appointed as door monitor to manage entry
  • A limited number of customers allowed in store at any time, operating with one customer per aisle
  • Two metre social distancing markers throughout the store
  • A ‘sanitisation point’ on entry where customers are able to clean hands, baskets and trolley handles
  • Checkout colleagues will be screened and appropriately spaced
  • Customers are recommended to make contactless card payments – and the limit has been increased to £45
  • All colleagues will be supplied with PPE including face visors, masks and gloves and all areas will have upweighted cleaning regimes

For mroe information, visit the new store at Unit 2, Deane Retail Park, Taunton, TA1 2LR.

Alternatively, you can go to www.hobbycraft.co.uk.

The Taunton store will be open Monday to Friday 9am to 8pm, Saturday 9am to 6pm and Sunday 10.30am to 4.30pm.