THE Pioneer has been given a sneak preview of what the Port's new Asda store looks like from the inside.

From the outside, it's easy to watch the £25m landmark building taking shape on what was once the car park of the old store.

But few - including many of the staff who will work there - have been privileged to see what's going on inside.

But, according to the man who will be its manager, Paul Rowland, it's well on course to open bang on schedule on August 7.

Mr Rowland personally gave us a guided tour of the store which will become a regional flagship for the retail giant in just five weeks' time.

One of the building's most striking features is its huge glass frontage - so different from its predecessor's almost hidden entrances.

Stepping inside, shoppers will be confronted be a vast sales area on two levels.

Immediately on the left will be the cigarette kiosk and customer services desk, next to which will be a large post office area with 10 counter spaces.

Continuing round to the left will non-food sales areas, including seasonal offers and toys.

Behind that will be small domestic appliances and, towards the rear of the store an electronics department selling everything from LCD TV screens to i-Pods.

Dividing the massive store in half is another of its unique features the 'up' travellator taking customers to the mezzanine floor - the 'down' staircase is over on the extreme left-hand side.

Over to the right of the travellator will be the produce department and, further back, the fish stalls, curry counter and rotisserie.

Next comes meat and chilled foods, health and beauty, pets section, frozen food and alcohol areas.

In the far right-hand corner will be the bakery, the photo shop and - another first for Asda in the Port - a 100-hour pharmacy, open from 7am-11pm Monday to Friday. Also on the ground floor will be an opticians.

The upper level will accommodate a vast area with polished wooden floors given over mostly to the George clothing section.

But also up there will be the home range, selling bathroom, bedroom and kitchen goods plus soft furnishings.

On the far side, at the front of the store, will be a restaurant run on Asda's behalf by the Compass catering company.

'We can't wait to get the new store open to let our customers take advantage of what we've being doing,' said Mr Rowland.

Paul picked to take lead in new era > > >

Paul picked to take lead in new era

WITH nearly 15 years' retail experience, Paul Rowland has been hand-picked to ensure the Asda store brings an exciting new shopping offer to the area, as well as playing an active role in the community.

He said: 'I am delighted to be heading up the new store, especially as we have been given lots of encouragement by all our customers as we gear up to opening day.

'I want Asda to be a major part of the reinvention of Ellesmere Port town centre and for it to be a store that everyone can be very proud of - colleagues and shoppers alike.'

The new store will open on the Monday after the temporary store, in the old Littlewoods building in Marina walk, closes on the Sunday to ensure there will be no disruption for shoppers.

It will be open 24 hours-a-day and there will be 1,200 shared car parking spaces in the town centre.

Paul, comes straight from successfully opening the Asda Supercentre at Huyton and he says that he will be using the same formula at Ellesmere Port.

'We have assembled a great team with our great colleagues who know the area and what makes it tick. They know what both the customers and the community want and we will be working hard to exceed expectations at every level.'

Paul, 37, is married with two children and is an avid golfer and football fan.

'I won't say whether I am a Blue or a Red,' he jokes, 'for fear of upsetting some of the customers! Mind you, we are looking, possibly, to sponsor a local football team to kick-off the new football season, so I guess my loyalty will be revealed when we buy the kit!'