Toys R Us opens new shop in WHSmith in Old George Mall

On Saturday, June 15, Geoffrey the Giraffe and WHSmith employees were ready to welcome customers to the new Toys R Us at 9am. 

The new toy shop can be found upstairs in WHSmith, with shelves packed with LEGO, Peppa Pig, Barbie, board games, soft toys and much more. 

@salisburyjournal Toys R Us has opened in Salisbury! #toysrus #salisbury #whsmith ♬ original sound - SalisburyJournal

Jack Way, customer manager for the region, said: "I love that we've opened a Toys R Us here. It's reliving memories of being a kid. Every time I walk past the Southampton store to get the train, I remember riding the bikes down the aisles and causing chaos - now I've brought that chaos to my stores. It's great I cannot wait. 

"Opening Toys R Us shows that retail isn't dying and there is still love for the high street. It's about nostalgia, and we all love fun and games. It's great that it is part of WHSmith now."

READ MORE: Everything you need to know about this year's Summer Solstice

Customer manager, Jack Way is pleased that Toys R Us has opened in Salisbury (Image: Newsquest)

With the promise of a free goody bag, excited shoppers were waiting outside to be the first through the doors. 

Those first in the queue had been waiting since 8am for the new toy shop to open. 

Ann Holme, and her gymnastic-loving granddaughter Rose Socorro, were some of the first in the queue. 

The first families who were in the queue at 8am (Image: Newsquest)

SEE MORE: End of an era - Much loved independent gift shop closing its doors this weekend

Rose, who was celebrating her 10th birthday on Sunday, June 16, was hoping to find some felt tip pens in the new store. 

Ms Holme said: "We're excited it's opening, it's amazing and great there's somewhere else to buy toys in Salisbury. Before we had to travel to Southampton or Basingstoke for Toys R Us, but they're both shut now." 

Monique Smart had brought along her two-year-old Inaya and five-year-old Parker. She told the Journal: "Only my eldest who's 14 would've known Toys R Us, these two don't and they love a toy shop.

"We're excited that it's opening, it's nice to be up so early and out on a Saturday too. It's so good, I can't wait for Inaya to be as excited as [Rose] is about things like this." 

The first 50 children in the queue received a goody bag with £20, and they were given Geoffrey memorabilia, play dough, stationery, ninja legends and more. 

SEE ALSO: Huge queue as customers flock to Hobbycraft grand opening

Evie and her dad, James, were excited about the new toy shop (Image: Newsquest)

Inside the store, dad James was looking at the toys with his eight-year-old daughter Evi. 

He said: "I was her age when I would go to the one near us in Poole, it was incredible - so much fun. The moment I saw the poster up I wanted to know when it was opening. 

"Forget the kids, when I woke up this morning my first thought was Toys R Us, I'm just so excited.  

"It's like Smyths but 10x better. It's so good that it's back."

READ MORE: Hardy's Sweet Shop says new business will be on premises 'very soon'
Romy and Logan were pleased with their new Geoffrey's (Image: Newsquest)

Logan, 10 and Romy, seven, were keen to look at the Squishmellows and take a new toy Geoffrey home. 

Their dad, Gavin Fisher, was glad to see Toys R Us open up. He said: "It's nice to have another shop in Salisbury and it's good that it's something for the kids too. I think it's smart to have a shop inside another shop - help save on the rent."

Salisbury is one of 30 WHSmith High Street stores set to open a new shop-in-shop from Toys R Us this year, following an initial launch of nine stores in 2023. Further openings this summer include locations in Nottingham, Brighton and Halifax.

Toys R Us went bust in February 2018, shutting the doors on all its 100 shops and resulting in the loss of more than 2,000 jobs.

It announced plans for a relaunch in October 2022, before striking an exclusive deal with WHSmith for concessions in the UK.

Inside the Salisbury store, there are the latest products and children can play hands-on with their favourite toys at the demonstration tables. There is also a lifesize Geoffrey the Giraffe sculpture for great for photo opportunities.