New Shrewsbury shoe shop will create up to 10 jobs

The UK's biggest shoemaker Hotter Shoes will be opening a branch in the Pride Hill Shopping Centre on October 4. It will replace the former Jane Norman clothing store, which has been left vacant since last year, when the national chain went into administration.

Hotter Shoes has opened 25 new stores across the UK in the last two years, and plans to open a further 15 by the end of this year.

Store manager Gaynor Williams said: "We're delighted to be bringing British designed, comfortable and quality shoes to Shrewsbury while creating 10 new jobs.

"I'm proud to say we have a really enthusiastic and dedicated team here and we're looking forward to welcoming new customers."

Hotter Shoes is the biggest UK shoemaker and has produced 1.5 million pairs of shoes from its Lancashire factory this year.

The company has expanded rapidly over recent years selling shoes direct to customers from an on site call centre. It has also been nominated to be part of the Made By Britain campaign.

Another empty store on Pride Hill will also be given a new lease of life this Saturday with the opening of a new travel agency.

The Midcounties Co-op Travel has taken over the space previously used by Past Times, which closed its doors in February.

It will be the company's first retail outlet to be branded as cooptravel.co.uk and will create eight jobs.

Sue Reid, group general manager for travel distribution, said Midcounties already had a presence in Shrewsbury with a number of food stores and post offices.

She said the firm was pleased to be investing further in Shrewsbury.

"We already have a strong membership and customer base in Shrewsbury.

"We saw the opportunity to bring our travel business here and we are delighted to be investing in the town so we can extend our offer to the local community," she said.

"We are confident our business will be welcomed and provide more choice for local people."