B&M Sails into Town With New Dover Store

B&M’s latest store officially opened in Dover on Saturday, providing a major jobs boost to the town.

The variety retailer has over 450 stores across the UK and its newest unit opened its doors at the new Honeywood Retail Park.

The brand new B&M Home Store is the first of its kind in the famous port town, creating up to 80 jobs for members of the local community.

And to celebrate the arrival in Dover of one of the UK’s fastest growing retailers, a VIP guest was invited to the store opening to cut the ribbon.

Following a successful B&M Local Hero search in the Kent Mercury newspaper, Roy Cousins was nominated and spent the day as B&M Dover’s very special guest.

A Local Hero is someone who makes life better for people in the area, works hard for a particular cause or is renowned for their charity work.

Roy was nominated by member of the public, Paul Swinerd who shared why he thought Mr Cousins deserved the accolade, recalling his heroic efforts on the night of a hurricane in 1987:

“Roy has recently retired from Dover RNLI Lifeboat, after volunteering 40 years of his time. He was aboard the lifeboat -in waves of over 60ft- when the vessel MV Sumnia hit the breakwater and sank in the entrance to Dover harbour.”

Mr Swinerd continued, “He helped rescue the crew of the Sumnia, putting at risk to his own personal safety, an act which ended with him being put in hospital with a heart attack.

“Now that, in my opinion, is a true hero.”

Staff at the new store were delighted to welcome its Local Hero and presented Mr Cousins with £250 worth of B&M vouchers, as a thank you for opening the store.

Sandra Ford, store manager at B&M Dover said, “We wanted a true VIP to officially open our new store and what better way than to ask customers to nominate those who make a real difference to people’s lives in and around Dover.”

The store provides a real jobs boost to the town, coinciding with the recent opening of several other units at the newly built Honeywood Retail Park.

B&M Dover is the retailer’s 4th store in the Kent area, joining two stores in Canterbury and a Bargains store in Broadstairs.