THE boss of a Bargain Booze store in Ulverston has transformed the shop ahead of the opening of an M&S and Aldi.

Former Wine Rack executive Haydn Hicks took on the lease in 2000 before first revamping the store in 2009 when a Tesco Express replaced the Woolworths in town.

“We’ve always tried to push what they’re not selling, we had to adapt and change so we went down the traditional beer route,” he said.

A decade later, and with an Aldi and M&S Simply Food due to open in Ulverston in the Spring at the Beehive site Mr Hicks has continued his store’s evolution.

The store now sells locally-supplied ice cream bar, homemade Belgian waffles, a F’real milkshake machine, Chicago Town pizza to go, a Tchibo self-serve coffee unit, Rustlers burger machine, Sir-Lush slush machine, and homemade sandwiches and salads.

The biggest transformation has been a new licence which allows customers to drink alcohol at a new seating area.

“We brought an on-licence concept in to it, where you can come in and buy a bottle of wine and sit down and drink it,” he said.

It’s a common practice among our customers now. I’m quite proud to be a pioneer of it really, but things are changing a lot.

“I’ve seen it on my travels in Ireland, where you can go in to a chemist and sit down with a pint of Guinness.

“Mums are coming in with their kids to get ice cream and will sit down with a bottle of prosecco, and others are sitting to drink beer in the evening.”