MOUNTAIN Warehouse is to become the latest store to open at Stane Retail Park on Sunday as the outdoor specialist prepares to welcome customers for the first time.

The new store will employ eight people and has an overall floor space measured at 8,200s ft.

It becomes the latest retailer to leave Colchester’s struggling High Street in favour of a retail park, with the shop having previously had a town centre branch before it went on to close in 2020.

Mountain Warehouse, which was founded in 1997, now has more than 250 stores across Britain.

It comes the same week Superdrug opened its new store at Stane Park. 

The launch of the new shop at the leisure park comes two weeks after the opening of Marks and Spencer, which took place the day after the closure of its High Street store.

Superdrug bosses, however, have reassured customers and employees alike they have no plans to close their city centre store.

The new branch, which has longer opening hours than its High Street counterpart, has resulted in the creation of 20 jobs.

Mountain Warehouse and Superdrug join Marks and Spencer, B&Q, Cook, Greggs and Aldi at the development. 

It means Stane Retail Park, which was constructed at a cost of £65million is close to a full complement of retail units.