Angling Direct opens new store in Warrington

Fishing tackle and equipment retailer Angling Direct opened a new store in Warrington, Greater Cheshire on 12 February, it announced on Thursday.

The AIM-traded firm said the opening brought the total number of Angling Direct locations across the UK to 35, with the board saying it further strengthened the company’s presence across the country.

It said the new 4,500 square foot store was located on Cockhedge Shopping Park, 10 minutes by road from junction nine on the M62, junction 21 on the M6 and junction 10 on the M56.

The centre had the largest car park in the town centre, Angling Direct noted, with up to 620 spaces available.

It said the store had been completely renovated throughout to provide the “expected high level of experience” for its customers, including a full-size ‘pole alley’ to provide customers with the opportunity to try before they made a purchase decision.

The board said the store was ideally situated within a highly populated and enthusiastic angling community, and was surrounded by lakes and other river venues such as the River Mersey and Weaver.

As with all Angling Direct stores, it catered for a “wide range” of angling disciplines, while also providing service from local and knowledgeable staff, the directors explained.

The new store was creating three full-time positions and two part-time positions.

“We are very excited to have broadened our reach into the North of England with the opening of our latest store in Warrington, a thriving local angling community,” said chief executive officer Andy Torrance.

“We look forward to providing the local anglers with a modern retail experience and products for all disciplines.”

Torrance said the store opening supported the company’s strategy to roll out new stores across the UK, to service popular fishing destinations and angling communities.

“At the same time, we continue to enhance our e-commerce offering in terms of products, experience and education in order to help raise the profile of angling.”

At 1128 GMT, shares in Angling Direct were flat at 68.5p.