EditorNew Carmarthen B&Q store taking shape ahead of late‑February opening
Work is moving at pace on B&Q’s new Carmarthen store at Parc Pensarn, with the DIY giant confirming it will open its doors before the end of the month. Fresh images taken this week show contractors putting the finishing touches to the former Poundstretcher and Laura Ashley unit, which has been undergoing a major refit ahead of the retailer’s move from its long‑standing base off the A40.
The existing B&Q at the Old Towy Sawmills site will close for the final time at 8pm on Thursday 26 February, with the new store opening the following morning at 9am. The relocation follows the expiry of the company’s lease at Glanyrafon Road in 2026, bringing nearly forty years at the Sawmills location to an end.
The Old Towy Sawmills
The Glanyrafon Road site long pre‑dates B&Q. It grew out of Carmarthen’s 19th‑century industrial sector, with the wider Towy Works complex dating back to 1795. For generations it supplied timber to builders, farmers and local trades, helped by its position near the River Tywi and the railway.
The sawmill was a major employer throughout the 20th century, and locals still recall collecting sawdust and shavings for livestock bedding. As traditional timber operations declined in the 1980s, the site transitioned into retail and B&Q took over during a period of rapid expansion for the chain.
The “Sawmills Roundabout” name has endured ever since, even as B&Q prepares to leave the site after nearly forty years.
The new 26,872 sq ft store promises an upgraded shopping experience, including an in‑store timber cutting service, the Lick paint range, and an expanded selection of workwear and footwear. More than 10,000 products will be available in store, with a further 22,500 items offered through next‑day Click + Collect.
Traffic moves through Parc Pensarn as work progresses on the new B&Q store, joining existing retailers including Halfords and Morrisons. (Image: Swansea Bay News)Opening day will feature offers, prizes and live music, with the first 50 customers between 9am and 9.30am receiving a “lucky dip” gift card worth between £15 and £100. The first 100 shoppers to make a purchase will also receive a free garden plant, subject to availability.
Staff have marked the upcoming move by volunteering at Carmarthen Food Bank, refreshing its outdoor space with painting, planting and general improvements as part of B&Q’s Community Days programme.
How B&Q got its name
B&Q began in 1969 when Richard Block and David Quayle opened their first DIY store in a converted cinema in Southampton. The business was originally called “Block & Quayle”, but the name was quickly shortened to B&Q — a snappier version that stuck.
The pair wanted to make home improvement accessible to everyone at a time when most supplies were sold through builders’ merchants. Their stores offered longer opening hours, bigger ranges and lower prices, helping to popularise DIY across the UK.
Through the 1970s and 80s the chain expanded rapidly, introducing power tools, sheet materials and modern home‑improvement products to a mass market. Today B&Q is part of the Kingfisher Group and remains one of the UK’s best‑known retail brands.
Will Francis, unit manager at B&Q Carmarthen, said the team was looking forward to welcoming customers to the new site. “We’re excited to be relocating our Carmarthen store to its new home at Parc Pensarn and proud to celebrate by partnering with Carmarthen Food Bank. The new B&Q Carmarthen–Pensarn store will offer an enhanced shopping experience, with expanded ranges and services all designed to help make it easier for our customers to improve their homes and make their lives better.”
Parc Pensarn has seen steady growth in recent years, with Halfords, Euro Car Parts, a gym and a café already established on the retail and industrial park. The future of the current B&Q building at the Sawmills Roundabout has not yet been confirmed.
Regular opening hours at the new store will be Monday to Saturday from 8am to 8pm, and Sunday from 10am to 4pm.
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