News Release

Tuesday 10 January 2023

Jollyes plans unique Peterborough ‘Pet Proms’ to launch its new store. Opening day performance to be led by the city’s @divainafurcoat, Gabriella Pineda-Rodrigues and cockerpoo Scamp

Jollyes team joined by Deputy Mayor Councillor Nick Sandford, happy to play second fiddle for once

Jollyes is putting the finishing touches to a new store in Peterborough as it prepares to open it with an exclusive performance of the “Peterborough Pet Proms”.

The nationwide retailer is opening its first Peterborough store at Unit 2-3, Rex Trade Centre, Maskew Avenue on Saturday 28 January at 10.00am.

The 4,400 sq ft store will initially employ 10 colleagues and will offer pet owners in the area a wide range of pet products, from food and treats to toys and accessories, as well as the services of a Community Pet Clinic.

The team will be led by new store manager Tracy Shipman, the proud mum of a cat, who joins Jollyes from Nottcutts garden Centre and after a stint at B&M

The official opening ceremony will be performed by the deputy mayor of Peterborough, Councillor Nick Sandford, Deputy Mayoress Alderman Bella Saltmarsh but they’ll also be assisted by Peterborough-based Gabriella Pineda-Rodrigues and cockerpoo Scamp.

Peterborough-based Gabriella has performed at London’s Royal Albert Hall and Royal Festival Hall, as well as the likes of Peterborough Cathedral, St John’s Church, and Stamford Arts Centre. Trained at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London, she has performed for the late Queen and is in demand as classical crossover singer.

Gabriella will help launch the store with the first pet proms, performing from 9.45am on opening day.

Her repertoire is expected to include little ‘Pooch-ini’ while Jollyes new customers do their ‘Chopin’ and favourite Disney songs such as:

• "Everybody wants to be a cat" from Aristocats
• "Feed the birds" - from Mary Poppins and
• ‘Once upon a dream’ from Sleeping Beauty which is on Classic FM's list of calming music for dogs.

The schedule of events for the opening day includes:

• Official opening at 10.00am by Peterborough deputy mayor Councillor Nick Sandford and deputy mayoress Alderman Bella Saltmarsh
• Pet Proms with Gabriella Pineda-Rodrigues from 9.45-10.15am
• The chance to win prizes by playing the “wheel of fur-tune”
• Goodie bags for the first 100 visitors
• Face-painting for kids and stilt walkers dressed as animals
• A live broadcast from 10am-1pm hosted by PCR FM Saturday breakfast hosts Keith & Claire.

Jollyes’ regional manager Sarah Farrar said: “We’re so excited to be opening in Peterborough and bringing Jollyes to Cambridgeshire for the first time.

“We’ll have a fantastic range of food, treats, toys and accessories in Peterborough’s best value pet superstore and we think that will be music to the ears of local pet owners.

“We’re looking forward to pet owners bringing their animals on opening day to join in the fun and join our Pet Proms.”

Further information
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About Jollyes

From modest beginnings in Enfield as a single store in 1971, Jollyes has now grown into one of the leading pet food superstores with 85 locations across the UK alongside a market-leading position in Northern Ireland.

From Perth to Plymouth, Newry to Norwich, at Jollyes customers can find anything for their pet, from pet food, pet toys and an array of pet accessories.

Customers are actively encouraged to bring their pets into store, while customers shop because Jollyes people are passionate about pets.

Potty about puppies and crazy for cats, no matter what the animal, store colleagues are always on hand to help with anything from product advice, to picking the perfect pet and accessories.

Many stores also run community clinics offering vaccinations and other advice from trained vets. And if one of Jollyes stores isn’t close by, there’s helpful advice on Jollyes website where you can ask the expert.

Jollyes was recently named Pet Retail Chain of the Year at the Pet Industry Federation Awards.