A BRIDAL shop is set to spread the sparkle by pumping £500,000 into a move to expand its business.

Serenity Brides, which has been in Colchester’s St Botolph’s Street since 2005, will be opening in Short Wyre Street on October 14.

Over the last few years the shop has expanded from its original property into two neighbouring ones.

But with nowhere left to go, and business booming, owner Julie Macrae decided to make the move.

She said: “We have outgrown our old shop and we really wanted a better location too.

“We rented our current place, but I have put a personal investment into this move and bought the new premises.

“Altogether we will have put £500,000 into the town centre. We really want to help transform that part of town.

“The builders are in at the moment and it’s going to look spectacular.”

Maldon and Burnham Standard:

The shop, which employs eight people, will also be taking on five new members of staff on a full and part-time basis.

The new premises will include five air conditioned rooms for brides, who will be greeted with a glass of fizz at the door, and a separate section for bridesmaids who will be allowed to enjoy their own mini hen do while picking their dresses.

Mrs Macrae said: “The showroom is going to be really big. There’s nothing like it this side of London.

“We also will have a new designer joining us, although we can’t say who yet.

“We are doing very well, but at the end of the day this is about our customers.

“I want every bride to leave feeling like a princess.”

The shop will be reopened, at the former Red Apple Retail shop, by Colchester MP Will Quince on October 14 at 2pm.

Mrs Macrae is running a competition for someone to open the new store.

She said “We’d like to hear about anyone who is going through a hard time and we’ll treat them like a VIP for the day.”

To nominate email info@serenitybrides.com