PLANS are in the offing for a much-loved Stroud shop which is to move premises. 

Ducklings Toy Shop in Stroud is on the move next month – with plans for a bigger store and more brands in a new location at the town’s Five Valleys Shopping Centre. 

The family-owned and managed company is planning for a mid-October launch in the new store in the main mall area at Five Valleys, near to the Tanning Room, Sports Direct and the Five Valleys Market.

Owner Colin Pattison and his son Josh are also planning to recruit more staff for the Five Valleys store which gives the company room to expand as well as the space to host more regular events for customers and for a huge wall of LEGO.

The store has been based at Union Street in Stroud for the last four years where the team have built up a good customer base in the town, with sister stores in Marlborough and Royal Wootton Bassett.

(Image: Five Valleys Shopping Centre) Stroud store manager Josh said: “The new store is around twice the size of the existing store and allows us to create a great experience for our customers.

“We will be trialing some new brands, but we will also have much more space for our existing brands to enable us to organise more events in store, including Pokémon swap shops which are always really popular.

“It’s also great for us to be part of Five Valleys and for families to be able to visit our store when they’re popping to the market or the other stores at the centre.”

Ducklings also cater for the growing gaming market – including Disney Locano, Pokémon and Magic the Gathering – catering for adult gamers as well as younger customers.

Erica Malpass, centre manager at Five Valleys, said: "Ducklings Toy Shop is a fantastic addition to our line-up here. 

"It's really good news that the new store will be open in time for the Christmas shopping period.

"The store team have some great ideas, including activities and new brands and we can't wait for the opening in the next few weeks."