Lidl, the supermarket chain, is to open a new store in the heart of Hammersmith.

Sited in the Kings Mall shopping centre in King Street, the 8,900sqft store will open in July 2020, around the corner from the neighbouring Sainsbury’s, which will remain in the centre.

Lidl’s decision has been welcomed by Cllr Andrew Jones, H&F Cabinet Member for the Economy and the Arts, who said: “This is very good news for Hammersmith, and great news for Kings Mall. A big name like Lidl will bring in shoppers, helping drive footfall for other businesses, and create jobs for local residents.”

Lidl opened a 13,400sqft store in the West12 shopping centre in Shepherds Bush last year, creating 40 jobs.

More to come

Also poised to open in the recently refurbished and upgraded Kings Mall is another household name, Metro Bank, bringing seven-day-a-week banking to customers and superfast account opening in a 4,000sqft branch currently being fitted out.

The news follows increased investment in Kings Mall by Danish gift store Flying Tiger, American sportswear chain Footlocker (which has increased its lease by five years and is installing a double-height shopfront) and Okido, a children’s favourite which has been running arts and science workshops during the summer holidays, and now plans to extend its stay.

The new arrivals are a major boost to owners Schroders who bought the 340,000sqft Kings Mall in 2015 for £153million, and set about revamping and upgrading the shopping centre.

Andrew Proctor, manager of the Kings Mall centre, said the arrival of Lidl and Metro Bank were certain to be ‘a big hit’ with customers. “They are huge high street names, so we are delighted to welcome them to Kings Mall, and it will be exciting to see the improvements in the Flying Tiger and Footlocker stores too,” he said.

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