Next It’s Next at Ladymead … and Oak Furniture Land

Published on: 2 Oct, 2013
Updated on: 17 Oct, 2013

The new Next in Ladymead

By Maria Rayner

Two empty units at Ladymead Retail Park in Woodbridge Road have been occupied with branches of national retailers.

On Thursday last week (September 26th), clothing and home store Next opened its doors, giving the first 100 customers gold envelopes containing a variety of gift vouchers.

Kirstie-Marie Holt has moved to Guildford from the flagship Camberley store. She said: “We’re opening so many new stores because Next is doing well as a company. We’ve been really busy. The store here is great for families. We have a much bigger children’s wear department than in White Lion Walk and there is free parking.”

As an added incentive Next is tempting customers with a voucher for the next two weekends.

The new Oak Furniture Land store

On Saturday Oak Furniture Land opened its 46th UK mainland showroom in part of the unit previously occupied by Comet.

The company claims to be the largest retailer of hardwood furniture in the UK and the Guildford store has provided employment for seven people, with the possibility of more.

Georgie Palmer from Cobham said: “It’s really lovely. I love painted furniture, and this range is beautiful.”

Store manager Gary Rayner lives in Epsom and has been with the furniture chain for six months, gaining experience in Reading, Tunbridge Wells and Canterbury. His staff all live within five miles of Guildford.

Oak Furniture Land specialises in solid wooden furniture.

“We provide free delivery and no flat pack. All our ranges are pre-assembled,” explained Gary. “There are 17 sofa ranges and the upstairs ‘sleep shop’ displays frames, divans and a variety of headboards and mattresses.”

Gary Rayner store manager

Opening times:

Next 9-8pm Mon-Fri, 9-6pm Sat, 10.30-4.30pm Sun

Oak Furniture land 9-8pm Mon-Fri, 9-6pm Sat, 10.30-5pm (½hr browsing) Sun

Responses to Next It’s Next at Ladymead … and Oak Furniture Land

Bernard Parke Reply

October 3, 2013 at 11:54 am

Surely such out of town shopping is the answer where there is room to breath and the parking is free.
David Rose Reply

October 3, 2013 at 12:44 pm

That’s a point – but what happens in the town centre, ie the traditional shopping district if all the shops are moved out?

Turn the retail area into housing?

Wall to wall bars and cafes?

Open a giant theme park based on Guildford’s heritage?

Invite more businesses to open offices?

Or once all has been driven out, it can then become one of the often quoted ‘twilight zones’.

Anyone else have some suggestions?
Sean Jenkinson Reply

October 4, 2013 at 6:22 pm

These shops and the new Halfords look great but they make the rest of the retail park look old and untidy. How do they go about updating the rest of the shops with out closing them down?