THE manager of a store selling grooming products is pleading with Westgate Centre bosses to give him the keys to his new shop so he can fit it out in time for the grand opening.

Last year independents Burrows & Hare, based in the Covered Market, were headhunted by Westgate Oxford Alliance to open their second store at the £440m shopping complex when it opens on October 24.

Manager Junaid Ansari, 28, said he has not yet been given access to the new unit and felt frustrated as he wanted to start fitting out the new store.

He is keen to compete with major retailers like John Lewis and Primark but wants as much time as possible to perfect his window dressing.

Westgate Oxford Alliance managers said the handover of retailers' shop units in the new centre was 'progressing well'.

Mr Ansari said: "We keep asking about this but we are still waiting to get the keys to our new store.

"It's frustrating because at first we thought we would be allowed in at the end of July, then it was August and the date kept being put back.

"Now time is getting quite tight - there is about a month to go - so we are hoping we can get the keys later this week - we have been told they should be coming then.

"There are multiple contractors to organise in terms of fitting out the new store, which will be three times the size of our current store.

"We will be competing with some major chains so we must look our best - we want to do ourselves justice at the Westgate Centre, which is a going to be a fantastic place to shop."

Mr Ansari's family-run business opened in the Covered Market in August 2015 and its menswear and grooming products 'for a new generation of discerning gentlemen' has won a loyal following.

Mr Ansari said his staff team was being expanded from three to 10.

He added: "This is a really important move for us so the sooner we can get into the Westgate Centre the better."

Burrows & Hare was one among 13 latest brands to be announced last year by centre managers Westgate Oxford Alliance, a partnership of Land Securities and the Crown Estate.

Other retailers at the 800,000 sq ft centre include Mint Velvet, Smashbox, Gant, Body Shop, T2, Hotel Chocolat, Guess, JD Sports, Accessorize, Lush and Aveda.

There will be 100 new shops and about 25 new restaurants and a cinema.

Primark, Hugo Boss, Ted Baker, Tommy Hilfiger and Calvin Klein and high street favourites Cos, H&M, Russell & Bromley and Victoria’s Secret Pink are also opening.

Discount clothing brand Primark has confirmed that its new 40,000 sq ft store will stage a launch event on the day of the opening.

Emma Mees, senior portfolio manager at Westgate Oxford Alliance, said: "Westgate Oxford is on track to open its doors on October 24, with handovers with retailers progressing well and on schedule for the planned phased retailer opening.

"We look forward to welcoming visitors to Westgate Oxford next month."