BASINGSTOKE residents have been getting nostalgic about former High Street favourite Woolworths after rumours spread claiming the store was making a comeback.

A Twitter account sent social media into meltdown after claiming it was "here to save 2020" as they announced Woolworths would allegedly be returning to Britain's high streets with three trial stores. 

But when pressed by The Gazette about whether Woolworths would be making a return to the UK's high street, Very's press officer said they couldn't answer the question but did not deny it.

In a statement to this newspaper, the spokesman said: “We own the Woolworths trademark in the UK. The Twitter account UKWoolworths is not connected to The Very Group.”

The chain which seemed to sell everything, shut its doors in Festival Place for the final time in January 2009.

It was a tearful farewell that marked the end of Woolies which was part of Basingstoke for more than 80 years.

Here are all the things nostalgic local residents say they loved about the former Woolies in Festival Place.

Arguably, the most memoriable and loved product in store was the Pick ‘n’ Mix, which tons of our readers mentioned but residents loved many other things about the store.

Lyn Nash worked on the record department for around three years in 1980: “Loved working there remember when the boxer Henry Cooper came in promoting Brut after shave he had a chat with me felt like a little mouse as I am so short.”

Grace Gichimu simply commented: “Woolworth was the best, kids these days will never know.”

Jean Neil remembers the former store well she reminisced about the “large fish counter with a waterfall” and “broken biscuits in tubs near front entrance” she said “those were the days”.

Linda Holmes has fond memories of the Woolworths photo booth: “Who remembers the photo booth used to pile in with all my friends on a Saturday after visiting Chelsea Girl.”

Comments on our Facebook post flooded in from ex-employees, all who praised the company saying they “loved” their former jobs at the store.

Claire Choules said: “I worked here in the baby clothes area upstairs. Loved my job here, first one I ever had.”

Mary Gray wrote: “All the people I loved working with. I worked on the front check-out in the Basingstoke store. That was a sad day when that picture was taken. I still have my badge and red tops. It was the best job.”

The original Woolworths in Basingstoke opened in 1921 in London Street. During its heyday, it moved in 1971 to Chiswick House, then it relocated to Festival Place, where it occupied most of the building.

However, in 1993, the firm halved its shopfloor and other businesses opened in the remaining space.