People queue for hours as new Salisbury Lidl opens

The new store on Churchill Way West, next to Waitrose, has been a long time coming and has been built in response to growing demand for affordable groceries in the area.

The 1,465 sq m supermarket offers Lidl’s full range, including its popular in-store bakery and the well-known ‘Middle of Lidl’ aisle featuring limited-time deals. Facilities include customer toilets, baby-changing areas, parking for cars and bicycles, as well as rapid electric vehicle chargers.

On Thursday morning, there were queues of people outside the store before it opened at 7 am.

At the front of the queue was 16-year-old Wesley Wardroper and his mum, Anne Wardroper. The pair had been outside Lidl since 4.25 am and were standing waiting for more than two and a half hours.

Wesley said: "I wanted to be the first person in the shop and the first paying customer. We are here early for the fun of it, really, and I heard that the first few people in get a free gift."

Mum, Anne, said: "This was all Wesley's idea, he loves being the first in places. He is studying hospitality at Wiltshire College as well, and it's his 17th birthday tomorrow, so we woke up just before 4 am for this."

The next person in the queue arrived at 6 am, and he wanted to get his hands on a flat screen tv from the ‘Middle of Lidl’ aisle, which had been advertised before the opening.

A big queue for the new Lidl opening (Image: Newsquest)

Finally, 7 am rolled around, and the Mayor of Salisbury, Cllr John Wells, was in attendance to officially open the store.

Mayor Wells said: "It's great to see so many people here so early for the opening of this store.

"I think it's going to be a real benefit to the local community, and it is a good location for another store, especially as it means avoiding that horrible trip down Southampton Road.

"I think it will see lots of school children, especially South Wilts girls, as they normally go to Waitrose for lunch, so this will be perfect for them."

The first three customers in the queue received a bottle of wine, a bunch of flowers and a box of chocolates.

Customers then flooded in, and most headed straight for the bakery or the famous middle aisle.

People were seen grabbing the TVs straight away to make sure they got their hands on one, but 16-year-old Wesley headed straight to the tills to make sure he was the first paying customer.

Anne and Wesley Wardroper were the first in the queue (Image: Newsquest)

Wesley said: "I was officially the first paying customer in the new store. I went for beef jerky in the end, and I am going to keep this receipt forever, it says 7.02 am on it."

Store manager Corey said: "It is fantastic to see so many people here so early; it has really exceeded my expectations.

"It is amazing to finally be open. We have a big shop floor space, and we are in a prime location for the people of Salisbury, especially those who live on this side of the city.

"I think we will be seeing some Waitrose and Sainsbury's customers in here for sure."