Planning permission has been granted for popular toy shop The Entertainer to open a new store in the centre of Bath.
The approved planning permission allows for the creation of a new shopfront on New Orchard Street, between Marks & Spencer and the Metro Bank.
The bank, which opened in October last year, is subletting part of its ground floor to the toy shop, which has stores across the country including locally in Bristol, Keynsham and Midsomer Norton and Yate.
The planning documents describe how the new site will “contribute to the economic sustainability” of the city centre and increase employment opportunities for the local community.
It also highlights an expected increase in pedestrian footfall in the area, due to the addition of the new shopfront.
The Entertainer, founded in 1981 and the UK’s largest independent toy retailer, is said to be bucking the trend of challenging trading conditions for similar retailers and grows its business through new store openings and the creation of strong links with communities.
The number of people employed by the business has increased by around 15% since 2016.
The opening of the new store comes after Eric Snooks, Bath’s much-loved toy shop, closed in 2017 after trading for 67 years.