SALISBURY’S Waitrose store has re-opened after a major refit – and now has many “firsts” for the chain.

The shop has the chain’s first cookery school outside London, and the first set of changing rooms to allow customers to try on their John Lewis Click and Collect items and return them on the spot if they don’t like them.

There’s also a new wine bar and a juice bar selling frozen ice cream The store took advantage of the down time to offer the community their help.

On the day the store closed for the refit, staff collected up £1,400-worth of fresh food and distributed it to three Salisbury charities – Alabaré, Morning Star and Community Outreach.

In addition, staff gave the charity Trussell Trust 40 hours of volunteer support through the chain’s Partner Volunteering Scheme, which allows the store to offer 250 hours of its staff’s time a year.

Retail support manager Alan Hoe said: “I was keen to support the community during our refit.

“Nine partners went to the trust and sorted the food and clothes at the trust’s warehouses.

“They also did a bit of furniture upcycling and made Christmas decorations to sell in the trust’s charity shops.

“One partner enjoyed it so much we’re going to fund five hours a week for her to help the trust up until Christmas.

“We also have a permanent Trussell Trust donation point for people to donate food and we’ll transport it to them.

“Anyone who feels they have a good cause can fill out a Community Matters form in store, which are at the green tokens boxes just at the exit.”

The store has taken on extra staff for the new hospitality roles.

Mr Hoe said: “The new layout is going fantastically and is being really well-received. People are really enjoying the concept “We’ve doubled the size of the restaurant so people are not having to queue, and the new cookery school is offering courses with professional chefs, which people can watch or get involved in.”