A major furniture store in Bury St Edmunds is set for a £1million refurbishment.

Glasswells, on Newmarket Road, is part way through a stock clearance event as they clear space for a complete refit.

The last major works at the store were 15 years ago, when an extension was built to house the atrium entrance, the extensive homewares and bedroom departments, and a purpose built carpet warehouse.

Managing director Paul Glasswell felt it was time for a more significant change. He said: “Glasswells has always strived to offer our customers the latest and most stylish furnishing options and it is essential that our environment provides visitors with the very best shopping experience.

“We are a forward thinking company and I understand how important it is to move with the times and embrace change.

“While the store will be given a fresh, new look our ethos of offering the widest choice, at the best value, with the highest customer service remains the same.”

The work has been planned and managed in-house by the company’s visual merchandiser Sarah Norris.

The first stage involved the £150,000 22-seat extension to the very popular in-store restaurant.

At the start of June, Glasswells closed for five days to prepare for the biggest clearance sale of its seventy year history.

The first phase of the refurbishment works commenced in July. More than 100,000 square feet of bespoke flooring will be installed over the next couple of months.

Some layout changes are being made to the walkways to open up display areas and give customers an easier route around the store.

The seven-figure program of work will continue into next year, including the modernisation of the reception and checkout areas, plus new fixtures and fittings within the flooring, soft furnishings and home accessories departments.

The store will remain open as usual seven days a week throughout.

Mr Glasswell added: “The staff have been brilliant during what has been a fairly disruptive time. All of the furniture has been moved multiple times to accommodate the flooring fitters, which has been hard work for everyone involved.

“We’ve still got plenty of clearance furniture on show.”