New Woolston toy shop to open at old Lloyds Bank on high street

Owners Hannah Foote and Billy Saint are launching Toytopia on Victoria Road on Saturday with a range of nostalgic toys that start from 20p.

Hannah, 25, said prices would be cheaper than usual toy retailers.

She said: “It’s a small community shop, so it will be slightly cheaper than the normal toy shop, and we’ve got little childhood toys that we’re bringing back like grow your own alien babies and fidget toys.

“In the mainstream stores, you don’t see these little fidget toys or slime. They just sell the bulkier stuff.

The view from outside Toytopia at The Bunker, Woolston. (Image: Billy Saint) “[This is] a blast from the past in a sense, it’s a shop where you can have as much fun as you can.”

Woolston residents would have previously had to travel four miles to Hedge End or venture into The Marlands into the city centre to find their nearest dedicated toy shop.

“That was why we decided to do it,” Hannah said.

“It’s a community based area, in the middle of Woolston centre, it’s the perfect location for the independent toy shop.

Billy Saint and Hannah Foote standing outside of their new Woolston toy shop named Toytopia. (Image: Billy Saint) “We’ve not run a toy shop before. My partner has had previous experience in retail so he has an idea of what to do.”

Toytopia are welcoming customers into the store with an event on October 19, where they will have skills-based competitions for children to win toys.

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Hannah said: “We just want everyone to come down and have a look what we have on offer.

The stock available at Toytopia, showing off some of their nostalgic toys. (Image: Billy Saint) “The idea of the shop is not necessarily to make profit, obviously we will make money but we’re just providing young children and young adults a place to come.

"All our prices are fairly cheap so that everyone can have something to buy.”

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Toytopia is located within the old Lloyds Bank on Victoria Road in Woolston, which has now been converted into “The Bunker” – a shared space where residents can get their own plot to set up stalls or stores to sell their own products.

“Even if you just feel like a chat, pop into The Bunker,” Hannah said.

“We’re all one community, anybody is welcome. It’s a community based hall where different crafters put out the stuff they make.

“Putting in loads of individual crafters brings the community together and it gives the chance to people to set up local businesses that they have dreamed to set up.”