St Hilary's retail park shops ahead of Starbucks opening

The new retail park, in Miles Gray Road opposite the Pipps Hill Retail Park, has been under construction for the bulk of this year and businesses have rapidly opened over the last three months. 

Now, Starbucks has confirmed its coffee-shop will open on December 22 - just in time for Christmas. 

Craig Rimmer, councillor responsible for economic stimulus and tourism, described the opening as “brilliant news”.

Taking shape - when just the Lidl, Bathroom Mountain and Tile Mountain stores were open (Image: Newsquest)

He said: “It’s good to get new retailers investing in Basildon.

“The whole of Britain is a popular place for coffee. A lot of people are switching from drinking alcohol for leisure to drinking coffee for leisure. Smaller, independent coffee shops operative in a completely different market. They tend to cater less towards a sweeter Americanised market and focus more on the continental experience. I drink a lot of coffee, so I’m not loyal to just one place, and there’s a big market for independent coffee makers, too.”

Ahead of the Starbucks opening on Friday, here is a round-up of all the shops now open at St Hilary's retail park as Basildon's newest retail park is almost complete.

The new Lidl supermarket (Image: Newsquest)

The international coffee giant will open its new store on December 22, in time for Christmas. It will join Lidl, Greggs, Tile and Bathroom Mountain, Lok’nStore self-storage and Magnet already open at the site.

Laindon resident Roy Davis, 77, says retail park visitors may fancy a coffee or another drink while shopping, regardless of whether the venue is independent.

The Lok'n'Store self-storage was one of the latest to open (Image: Newsquest)

He added: “But it would be nice to have a new face on the market, instead of the conglomerates.”

Meanwhile, Basildon bartender Rob Stephens, 51, says the continued growth in large coffee retailers indicates “changing times”.

The Greggs opened earlier this year (Image: Newsquest)

He said: “I feel sorry for the little coffee shop owner, as they’ve been stepped over a bit. But Starbucks serves a good product, which is why it does really well. I used to be a butcher, so I have my problems with large retailers and supermarkets, but I admit I do go to them. I also believe competition is sometimes good, and it brings more variety.

“Let’s be honest, we need growth. You want the high street to be there in 20 or 30 years, but the way people shop has changed. If someone is willing to invest and encourage spending in Basildon, good luck to them. They’ll also be employing people.”

The huge magnet store (Image: Newsquest)