A SOUTHAMPTON supermarket has reopened to shoppers after a £500,000 makeover.

Customers in Bitterne got their first taste of the new layout on Wednesday after the refurbishment that has seen a change in products and design.

A new front of store, digital screens on the shop floor and new checkouts are some of the changes that have been installed in the revamp that cost the company more than half a million pounds.

Brighter, more defined colour palettes see the store reflect more vibrant and modern designs in an attempt to attract customers into a more sleek experience.

It comes as Iceland follows its 'new concept' stores after the first revamp in London in October last year, with the Locks Heath store also set to reopen next week following the same pattern.

The Iceland store is now selling craft beer as well as offering customers a chilled bottle of champagne.

The company also said that colleagues will enjoy improved working conditions both on the shop floor and behind the scenes.

Neil Hayes, Iceland merchandising and format development director, said: "Each of our refitted stores opened to date has created a real buzz, winning praise from our regular customers and attracting new shoppers who had never thought of trying Iceland before."

The store had been closed for a fortnight during November for the works to be carried out.

Neil added: "Doing work on this scale is only possible if we close the store for a time and I thank all our customers in Bitterne for their patience while the project has been completed.

"This work is part of an investment of more than £2 million by Iceland in Hampshire in just one month, with our Alton store recently successfully reopened and two more major refits in Basingstoke and Locks Heath, reopening next week."

Shoppers will also benefit from the new product range across the store from Iceland's frozen and chilled food as well as it's fruit and vegetables and alcohol.

Around 20 of the company's stores are set to be refurbished in a similar way by March next year.

Iceland has 900 stores across the UK after being founded in 1970.