Press release -
UK's first Post Office in a Hobbycraft store officially opened at Gaters Mill, near Southampton
- Exciting new retail partnership between Hobbycraft and Post Office
- Brand-new branch opens at Hobbycraft, Gaters Mill, Mansbridge Road, West End, Southampton, SO18 3HW
- Mayor of Eastleigh “cuts the ribbon” at community celebration
- Post Office open daily with 70 hours of service per week
- Convenient location with free time-restricted parking
- Customers of main UK banks can access accounts at new branch
- Services include bill payment, postage including EVRI and DPD, home shopping collections & returns, foreign currency, Post Office Travel Money Card & Western Union money transfer
Hobbycraft and Post Office have teamed up for an exciting new partnership. The official opening of the first Post Office branch inside a Hobbycraft store near Eastleigh and Southampton has taken place.
The Mayor of Eastleigh, Cllr Janice Asman, “cut the ribbon” to mark the official opening of the branch at Hobbycraft, Gaters Mill, Mansbridge Road, West End, SO18 3HW. This community celebration was also attended by Hobbycraft CEO, Alex Willson, Mayoress Cllr Sarah Turl, who also represents West End, Post Office Managing Director, Retail, Pete Marsh and Post Office Strategic Partnerships Director, Abigail Mcgeever.
Cutting the ribbon is the Mayor of Eastleigh, Cllr Janice Asman, who attended along with Mayoress Cllr Sarah Turl, who also represents West End.
The new branch is on the rural outskirts of Eastleigh and Southampton inside Haskins Garden Centre. However, it is close to the M27, which makes it easy for local people and commuters to pop in and there is the benefit of free time-restricted parking on site.
Post Office services are available throughout Hobbycraft’s opening hours: Monday – Friday: 9am – 8pm; Saturday: 9am – 6pm; Sunday: 10.30 – 4.30pm. This offers 70 hours of Post Office service a week, making it very convenient for customers to visit. The Post Office counter is alongside the retail counter.
Darren Kay, Retail Director at Hobbycraft, said: “Introducing Post Office to Hobbycraft Southampton is incredibly exciting. This new partnership enables us to bring Post Office services to retail park locations and offer essential banking, mail, and travel services to the local community. Our store colleagues are eager to deliver these services alongside the expert hobby and craft guidance they provide day in, day out.”
Mayor of Eastleigh, Cllr Janice Asman, who represents West End South ward and also serves as a West End Parish councillor, said: “The opening of Gaters Mill Post Office is a real boost to the outskirts of West End as it makes it easier for people to visit the branch where they can send and collect mail and parcels as well as doing everyday banking.”
TGJones, is a sister company of Hobbycraft, which is one of Post Office’s biggest retail franchise partners with 179 Post Offices across the UK. These are inside former WHSmith high street stores which were taken over by Modella Capital Group in June 2025.
At Gaters Mill Post Office personal and business customers can do their everyday banking. Customers can also post letters and parcels including Royal Mail, Parcelforce, EVRI and DPD and collect and return online shopping items. Other services include bill payments, Dollars and Euros available on demand and pre-order for other currencies and Post Office Travel Card. Western Union money transfer will be available.
Callum Bonfield, Post Office Strategic Partnerships Manager, said: “The launch of our partnership with Hobbycraft marks an important milestone for Post Office, reinforcing our strategy of building strong, mutually beneficial partnerships with leading UK retailers. This collaboration builds on the success of our thriving relationship with its sister company TGJones and reflects our commitment to refreshing our network to meet the evolving needs of customers.
"By working with Hobbycraft, we’re able to reach new customers, who will benefit from longer opening hours and free parking, making access to essential Post Office services easier and more convenient than ever. At the same time, they can enjoy the convenience of shopping for gifts, crafts, party supplies, and more within the Hobbycraft store.
"Post Offices play a vital role in communities, and this partnership is a win-win for customers and retailers alike, helping drive footfall into Hobbycraft locations while strengthening our position as a trusted provider of everyday services. The new branch at Gaters Mill, West End offers excellent road links, making it simple for people to pay bills, withdraw cash, and send or collect mail at a time and place that suits them best.”
Hobbycraft was founded in 1995 by the Haskins Group, the nursery and garden supplier in the south of England and before later being sold to Modella Capital in 2024. This West End location was Hobbycraft’s second craft store in the UK and it opened in August 1996.
Topics
Categories
About the Post Office
- With over 11,500 branches, Post Office has the biggest retail network in the UK, with more branches than all the banks and building societies combined.
- Post Office is helping anyone who wants cash to get it whichever way is most convenient. Partnership with over 30 banks, building societies and credit unions means that 99% of UK bank customers can access their accounts at their Post Office.
- Cash withdrawals, deposits and balance enquiries can be made securely and conveniently over the counter at any Post Office; and the biggest investment by any organisation or company in the last decade is being made to safeguard 1,400 free-to-use ATMs across the UK.
- Post Office is simplifying its proposition for Postmasters with a focus on its cash and banking; mails and parcels; foreign exchange; and; bill payments services.
- Research has found that visits to the Post Office help drive another 400 million visitors to other shops, restaurants and local businesses equating to an estimated £1.1 billion in additional revenue for High Street businesses.
- 99.7% of the population live within three miles of a Post Office; and 4,000 branches are open seven days a week.
