A new post office has officially opened in Bentilee, Stoke-on-Trent. 

On Friday (12 December), local MP, Gareth Snell, performed the official opening of Beverley Drive Post Office located at Bugsy's DIY, Beverley Drive. 

The Beverley Drive Post Office is a replacement for Dawlish Drive Post Office, which was in Bentilee District Shopping Centre before closing in February 2024, due to the resignation of the postmaster. 

Beverley Drive Post Office will be open Monday to Sunday from 9am to 6pm, providing 63 hours of post office service per week. 

The same products and services that were available at Dawlish Drive are available at Beverley Drive Post Office, except for Travel Money, Passport Check and Send, on Demand Travel Insurance and Vehicle Tax. 

People will be able to carry out their personal and business banking seven days a week including cash and cheque deposits, cash withdrawals, checking balances and bill payments. 

Aydin Altundal, branch manager (and brother of postmaster Hasan Altundal), Gareth Snell, MP and Hasan Altundal, postmaster of Beverley Drive post officeAydin Altundal, branch manager, Gareth Snell, MP and Hasan Altundal, postmaster of Beverley Drive Post Office (image via Post Office)

There is also customer car park with a disabled parking bay directly outside the new premises. 

Hasan Altundal is the new postmaster and the branch is the first post office that Hasan has run. 

After running convenience stores for the past twelve years and then taking on Bugsy's DIY three years ago, Hasan decided to incorporate the Post Office into Bugsy's DIY for the benefit of his business and the wider community.  

Hasan said: "I'd often used the post office at Dawlish Drive myself for banking transactions and could see that it was always busy and that people in the community very much relied on it, particularly the elderly. 

"It made sense to me to not only to take on a post office but also to locate it in the heart of the community that need it - Beverley Drive is right in the middle of one of the biggest housing estates in the country and many residents really missed having a post office on their doorstep. 

"I'm really happy that I've been able to meet the needs of the community by opening this post office." 

Gareth Snell, MP said: "I want to thank Hasan – it's fantastic news that a Post Office has re-opened in this part of Stoke on Trent and it's a very welcome addition after being without a post office for nearly two years. 

"We know how important a post office is to a community and it's particularly great that it's open seven days a week in a very convenient location for local residents." 

Beverley Drive Post Office is located at Bugsy's DIY, Beverley Drive ST2 OPW and is open from Monday to Sunday, 9am to 6pm.