This morning, Waitrose welcomed customers through the doors of its brand new ‘Little Waitrose’ shop in The Arches, Bristol, marking the latest milestone in its £1 billion, multi-year investment programme into its UK store estate.
The nationwide plan will see investment in every Waitrose shop, from refurbishments to new openings, reinforcing the brand’s commitment to its physical stores and delivering the best experience for customers.
At just under 3,000sq ft, the shop offers more than 3,400 products including Waitrose’s popular own brand ranges, such as the food lovers’ favourite – Waitrose No. 1. Making this evening’s dinner something to look forward to, customers can pick up Waitrose’s No.1 £15 Evening Meal Deal for two, which offers a restaurant-quality main, side, and a starter or dessert. Come Christmas, customers can treat their guests and themselves to mince pies and great-for-gifting chocolates from the much loved range.
Providing a quick and easy top up shop, customers can also explore Essential Waitrose – the great value range which doesn’t compromise on quality, taste or animal welfare, and Waitrose Duchy Organic – kinder farming, better animal welfare and no pesticides across a wide range of categories; together with household brands and an in-store bakery. Lunchtime shoppers can take advantage of Waitrose’s popular £5 lunchtime meal deal which includes a main, a snack and a drink.
The drinks area is stocked with a carefully selected range of award-winning wines, and in response to demand for lower alcohol drinks, an expanded range of low and no alcohol wines and beers.
Local customers will be able to order home delivery from the shop using Uber Eats, Deliveroo and Just Eat, and pick up John Lewis and Waitrose Entertaining orders.
The opening of the shop has created 25 new local jobs. All new employees are now Partners in the John Lewis Partnership, the UK’s largest employee owned company which Waitrose is part of, along with John Lewis.
Branch Manager, Tom Blyth, has more than 18 years experience at the John Lewis Partnership, starting as Section Manager at John Lewis Nottingham and up until recently, as manager of Little Waitrose Clifton.
Tom said: “It’s fantastic to be part of such a significant nationwide investment. My team and I have been busy getting everything ready to welcome customers to their brand new shop. They’ll discover our great range of quality products on offer, as well as convenient delivery and pick up options, capped by the excellent service the Partnership is famous for.
“Coming from Clifton to The Arches, I’m pleased to continue supporting the local community through our outstanding customer experience and the creation of job opportunities.”
Tom’s team includes Baxter Fletcher, a Partner and third-year photography student at the University of the West of England in Bristol, who captured imagery of the opening of the shop to accompany the announcement.
To celebrate the launch, the very first customer through the doors at 8am received a bouquet of flowers with additional early bird customers welcomed with the gift of a free tote bag.
Waitrose has confirmed further investment in the Bristol area with the launch due to be followed by the retailer’s first distribution centre in the region. The 360,000 sq ft distribution centre at Mountpark’s Bristol 360 is scheduled to open towards the end of 2026. It has been designed to deliver to around 50 current Waitrose shops, with the capacity to accommodate more.
The following year will see Waitrose’s first new full-line supermarket for seven years at Brabazon, an award-winning new town. The 30,000 sq ft store will create around 150 new jobs and join The Arches, Clifton and Westbury Park shops serving customers in Bristol.
The Little Waitrose shop is located at 1-3 Gloucester Road, The Arches, Bristol, BS7 8AA and is open from Monday to Sunday, 7am -10pm.
