Discount retail giant B&M has announced four new megastores are set to open across the UK next month as part of its continued nationwide expansion.

The bargain chain has thrived while many high street rivals struggle. B&M will launch new stores in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland within the next few weeks. The openings come amid strong financial performance, with B&M – which also owns the UK and France operations and the Heron Foods chain – reporting revenues up 2.5% to £5.6 billion in 2024.

The first of the new stores will open in Diss, Norfolk, on Saturday, February 28. Three further openings will follow in quick succession next month.

A store in Strabane, County Tyrone, is set to open on Friday, March 20. Just a day later, on Saturday, March 21, another branch will launch in Fort William, Inverness-shire.

The final opening, expected to be the largest of the four and featuring a garden centre, is scheduled for Friday, March 27.

The expansion means more shoppers will be able to access B&M’s discounted ranges, spanning everything from make-up and homeware to garden products and seasonal items such as Easter chocolate.

*** Ensure our latest news headlines always appear at the top of your Google Search by making us a Preferred Source. Click here to activate or add us as Preferred Source in your Google search settings. ***

The openings follow recent moves by the retailer to roll out further in-store discounts in a bid to boost profits. Earlier this year it was reported that more than 35% of selected product lines had their prices cut, with reductions averaging 1.8%.

Founded in 1978, B&M has grown into one of Britain’s best-known value retailers, operating hundreds of stores across the UK.

The chain is known for its warehouse-style outlets offering low-cost homeware, furniture, food and drink, toys, electricals, DIY products and seasonal goods. Its out-of-town “megastores” often feature large floor spaces and, in some locations, garden centres.

Major pub chain JD Wetherspoon has revealed launch dates for seven fresh establishments in the final months of 2025 and early 2026 – including a significant venue that has recently commenced operations in the north east – whilst confirming when another location will open its doors.

The openings include new venues in Bristol, Croydon, Stockton-on-Tees, Beaconsfield and Wetherby. The company is broadening its collection of establishments, with multiple locations expected to serve patrons before 2025 comes to an end.

Earlier this month, JD Wetherspoon’s chief executive vowed to “keep price increases to a minimum” despite confronting pressure from escalating labour expenses, even as the firm reported enhanced sales and profits compared to the previous year.

The business, which runs nearly 800 pubs throughout the UK, has witnessed trading continue to improve in recent months. It disclosed achieving turnover totalling £2.13 billion for the year ending July 27.

This marked a 4.5% rise compared to the previous year, whilst like-for-like sales – which excludes the impact of pub openings and closures – climbed by 5.1%.

This expansion was fuelled by growth in both bar and food sales, though hotel room sales plummeted by nearly 12% following the decision to pull out of online booking platforms in the UK.

The fresh establishments began launching in October – with the next one opening at the start of December.

Wetherspoons pub openings from October 2025:

• Sigered, King of Essex, East Walk Basildon Opening: Tue 21 October
• The New Moor Farm, Cramlington, Tyne and Wear, Wed 5 November
• The Hollybush Seam, Westerleigh Rd, Bristol, Wed 3 December
• The Red Anchor, Stockton-on-Tees (Papas Group franchise) Wed, 10 December
• Coombe Lodge, Croydon Wed 17, December
• The Angel Inn will open in Wetherby, Tues, 23 December
• The Chiltern, Station Road, Beaconsfield, Tues, 13 January

It follows the opening of four extra locations since the summer.

• The Hykeham Manor, Roman Way, Lincoln
• The Sir Alexander Fleming, Merchant Square, Paddington
• Walham Green, Fulham Road, Fulham
• The Dictum of Kenilworth, The Square, Kenilworth

Last week, The New Moor Farm in Cramlington was inaugurated, creating 60 new jobs.

Located on the site of the former Moor Farm Beefeater restaurant, the development project cost over £1 million.

The pub’s name pays homage to its location, which once comprised the fields of Moor Farm, situated just off the bustling A19 Moor Farm Roundabout.

First documented in 1769 as ‘New Moor’, and later referred to as ‘Moor House’, ‘Cramlington Moor Farm’, and finally ‘Moor Farm’, the site had been deserted by the late 1980s.

In the early 2000s, the farmhouse and its outbuildings underwent redevelopment.

The New Moor Farm will operate from 8am until 11.30pm from Sunday to Thursday, and 8am until midnight on Friday and Saturday.

It will feature a ground floor bar, with food being served throughout the day, from opening until 11pm all week long.

Wetherspoon said: “Wetherspoon is opening new pubs across the UK and continues in seeking further sites. Inspired by local history, each pub has its own design, character and personality.

“Wetherspoon has been recognised, winning numerous design award competitions, and is renowned for transforming old and often-derelict buildings into beautiful, vibrant pubs.”

Discussing the latest financial results, Wetherspoon’s chairman Sir Tim Martin revealed that beverages favoured by younger patrons have been experiencing growth across its pubs – including cocktails and fashionable spirits such as Au Vodka.

“Real ale has made a comeback, with volumes challenging pre-pandemic levels,” he stated. “Wine, which had been a bit slow, is at a record.”

Sir Tim also pointed out that chicken dishes were performing well on the food menu, with Korean chicken being a “big success” over the past year, while breakfast continued its recovery with record sales.

The firm operated 794 pubs at the end of the fiscal year, with plans to launch 15 managed sites and 15 franchised locations in the coming year. Sir Tim explained that increases in national insurance contributions and wages were adding approximately £60 million to the chain’s annual expenses, whilst the company was also grappling with the impact of energy costs and new packaging taxes.

Throughout 2025, Wetherspoon maintained an average workforce of nearly 42,100 employees across its pubs and head office.

Aldi has announced plans to open 16 new stores by Christmas 2025, with the first set to launch in just a few days. The supermarket giant revealed that these new outlets will all be operational between Thursday 6 November and Friday 12 December.

The new stores will be located in various locations across the UK, including Liverpool, Kirkintilloch in Scotland, Cheadle in Staffordshire, Billericay in Essex, and Kentish Town in London. The fourth-largest supermarket in the UK is investing £650 million across the country through its store opening and refurbishment programme in 2025, creating approximately 40 jobs at each new site.

In addition to this, Aldi recently declared its intention to double down on its investment with a commitment of £1.6 billion over the next two years, resulting in the opening of 40 stores annually.

Jonathan Neale, Managing Director of National Real Estate at Aldi UK, stated: “At Aldi, we’re focused on making affordable, high-quality food accessible to as many people as possible – and opening new stores is at the heart of how we do that.

“Launching 16 new stores in just over five weeks is a significant milestone for our business and a clear demonstration of the pace and ambition behind our growth plans. It means more communities will benefit from Aldi’s value and choice in the weeks ahead and beyond.”

In anticipation of the Christmas rush, Aldi has initiated a bold recruitment campaign to employ over 4,500 store colleagues across the UK. These new team members will be instrumental in replenishing stock, aiding customers and ensuring the smooth operation of stores during one of the retail calendar’s most hectic periods.

New store colleagues will also reap the benefits of Aldi’s status as Britain’s top-paying supermarket, with Store Assistants earning from £13.02 an hour nationally and from £14.35 inside the M25 from September 2025.

The Aldi stores opening before Christmas are:

• Philadelphia, Tyne and Wear
• Pendle Drive, Litherland/Sefton, Liverpool
• Gallamore Lane, Market Rasen
• McGavigans Road, Kirkintilloch, Scotland
• Queens Park Avenue, Billericay
• Kentish Town, London
• Dundee Road, Arbroath
• The Green, Cheadle
• Boghall Road, Baillieston
• Old Shoreham Road, Hove
• Pershore Market, King George’s Way, Pershore
• Riverside Retail Park, Yate, Gloucestershire
• Northallerton, North Yorkshire
• Harefield Road, Uxbridge
• Daventry, Northamptonshire
• Old Kent Road, London

Giant boozer chain JD Wetherspoon has confirmed the opening dates for five new pubs – and the first one is within days. The chain is expanding its number of outlets – and there are a number opening before the end of 2025.

Eaerlier this month the boss of JD Wetherspoon has said the pub group will try to “keep price increases to a minimum” amid pressure from rising labour costs, despite reporting higher sales and profits over the past year.

The company, which operates nearly 800 pubs across the UK, has benefited from trading continuing to improve in recent months. It revealed it generated revenues totalling £2.13 billion for the year to July 27.

This was 4.5% higher than the year before, while sales on a like-for-like basis – which strips out the impact of pub openings and closures – rose by 5.1%.

This was driven by both bar and food sales growth, while hotel room sales dropped by nearly 12% after deciding to exit from online booking agents in the UK.

The new pubs will be opening from October – with the first on October 21.

Wetherspoons pub openings before 2026:

• Sigered, King of Essex, East Walk Basildon Opening: Tue 21 October
• The New Moor Farm, Cramlington, Tyne and Wear, Wed 5 November
• The Chiltern, Station Road, Beaconsfield, Tue 2 December
• The Hollybush Seam, Westerleigh Rd, Bristol, Wed 3 December
• The Angel Inn will open in Wetherby, Tues December 23.

There is still a chance of more openings of Wetherspoon’s before the end of the year. A date for the next Papas Group franchise in Stockton-on-Tees is also expected to be announced shortly.

It follows the opening of four new Spoon’s locations since the summer.

The Hykeham Manor, Roman Way, Lincoln

The Sir Alexander Fleming, Merchant Square, Paddington

Walham Green, Fulham Road, Fulham

The Dictum of Kenilworth, The Square, Kenilworth

Wetherspoon said: “Wetherspoon is opening new pubs across the UK and continues in seeking further sites. Inspired by local history, each pub has its own design, character and personality.

“Wetherspoon has been recognised, winning numerous design award competitions, and is renowned for transforming old and often-derelict buildings into beautiful, vibrant pubs.”

Speaking about the recent figures Wetherspoon’s chairman Sir Tim Martin said “younger people’s drinks” have been on the rise across its pubs – including cocktails and “trendy” spirits such as the Au Vodka brand.

“Real ale has made a comeback, with volumes challenging pre-pandemic levels,” he said. “Wine, which had been a bit slow, is at a record.”

Sir Tim also said that, across its food menu, chicken-based dishes were selling well, with Korean chicken a “big success” over the latest year, while breakfasts were continuing to rebound with a record-high volume of sales.

The group ran 794 pubs at the end of the financial year, and plans to open 15 managed pubs and 15 franchised pubs in the year ahead.

Sir Tim said increases to national insurance contributions and wages was adding about £60 million to the chain’s yearly costs, while it was also facing an impact from energy charges and new packaging taxes.

Wetherspoon employed an average of nearly 42,100 staff across its pubs and head office over 2025.