SUPERMARKET giant Tesco has confirmed it will be opening a store on the site of a pub that closed suddenly in August.

Staff and regulars turned up at the Dolphin pub in Holdenhurst Road, Springbourne, to be told it had shut without notice.

Now, Tesco has said that it will be opening an Express store on the site in the spring, with work beginning on site shortly.

The chain has also confirmed that it is moving into the basement of student accommodation to cope with increasing demand in one of its town centre stores.

The firm said that the moves would create 40 new jobs in total.

The current store in Holdenhurst Road, near the Lansdowne, will close later this month when the larger, replacement store is ready.

Tesco said the new store beneath Bournemouth University accomodation at Lyme Regis House, 69-89 Holdenhurst Road, would offer a wider range of products, particularly during the busy lunch time period.

It will have an improved snacks range, a larger bakery, three tills, a Costa Coffee machine and a wider range of general products.

“We have decided to expand as a result of the high demand the store faces, particularly for lunchtime essentials,” said store manager Carl McLoughlin.

“My team and I are excited to get into the new store and hope that customers like the improvements. “We hope that the move will revitalise the area – it’s great that we can continue to play an active role in the local community.”

The store will be open from 6am until 11pm, seven days a week.