The opening date for a huge new funeral home and service hall in the city suburbs has been revealed. 

The East of England Cooperative Funeral Services has taken over the former Lidl in Drayton Road and will be open early next month. 

From December 2, the branch will be available for funeral arrangements and host services, with a large service hall set to be unveiled at the site.

The site will also have a service hallThe site will also have a service hall (Image: Denise Bradley) The former Lidl closed in April 2023 and remained empty until earlier this year, when the East of England Cooperative first submitted plans for the site.

READ MORE: Plans to open large funeral home in former Lidl store given green light

The store was one of Lidl's oldest in Britain, opening in 1995 - just a year after the German brand opened its first 10 British stores.

The decision to close it was made due to the building's condition, which was described as "not fit for purpose" by a spokesman for the supermarket chain.

Now it has undergone a major transformation under the ownership of the East of England Cooperative ahead of its upcoming opening.