Manager Adam Davis took the opportunity to propose to his partner during the opening of a new pet superstore on Valentine’s Day.

Adam got down on one knee and asked Angela Raine to marry him – and she said yes. Adam and Angela, who live in Bishop Auckland, have been together for 12 years and share two sons, Alfie and Jack.

The manager welcomed customers to the new Jollyes store, which has created eight new jobs in Hartlepool. 

As well as Adam’s marriage proposal to Angela, local dog lover Jessica Hecker and her cocker spaniel Ginny won a competition to have their special bond blessed by a local celebrant. Eileen Temple-French led the heartwarming blessing with a personalised sermon which was accompanied by a live accordionist, playing romantic songs.

Adam, formerly of Jollyes’ Newcastle store, said: “We’re delighted to finally open the doors and welcome customers to our new store in Hartlepool.

“We know people are mad about their pets, and today was all about celebrating that bond with the pet blessing between Jessica and her cocker spaniel Ginny.

“It was a truly heartwarming day, filled with wagging tails, happy faces, and a little bit of love.

“The whole team here is excited to bring their pet expertise alongside the kind of value that’s been making a real difference to pet parents right across the UK.”

Performing the official red ribbon cutting was Councillor Pamela Hargreaves the leader of Hartlepool borough council, alongside MP Jonathan Brash, members of the Jollyes management and store team and their mascot Jolly.

Joining them was special guest Nash a retired police dog supported by the National Foundation for Retired Service Animals (NFRSA) – Jollyes’ national charity partner, who bit through a string of sausages, alongside her owner Tony and Rona Malessa to mark the occasion.

Nash, a Belgian Malinois was a serving police dog between 2017 and 2025. During her career she safely detained many dangerous suspects and located countless vulnerable missing people.

The NFRSA helps support the care, well-being, and welfare of retired service animals from across the emergency service family - the police, fire, border force, National Crime Agency, NHS and prison services.

So far this year, Jollyes has opened stores in Blackpool and Ponders End, and is due to open in Whitehaven on Friday 27 February.

Over the past three years Jollyes has almost doubled the number of stores across the UK, becoming a clear challenger brand in the UK pet retail market. It was named as one of The Sunday Times’ best big companies to work for in 2024, and in 2025 won the Retail Week Award for Head Office Heroes following its highly successful raw frozen food roll out.

Gallery of pictures from the Hartlepool store opening below...