A NEW furniture store will create 45 new jobs when it opens on April 1.

Twenty-five staff will be employed directly in the new Barker and Stonehouse on Old Shoreham Road, Hove.

A further 20 jobs will be at a new state-of-the-art warehouse in Crawley as part of the £1.5 million investment.

TV presenter and architect George Clarke is to perform the official opening and will welcome new customers before taking part in a live question and answer session in front of visitors.

It will be hosted by Telegraph interiors editor Talib Choudhry and will see George discuss his career and design inspiration as well as his top picks from the Barker and Stonehouse collection.

Last year saw the British family-run retailer celebrate a milestone of 70 years since the company opened its first store in the north of England back in 1946 after the two founders, Charles Barker and Alex Stonehouse were demobbed from the RAF.

Since then the business has continued to grow and today it is run by the third generation of the Barker family with ten stores, each offering an extensive range of furniture, flooring and accessories to customers.

George Clarke, who started his career as an architect, building up a company that designs living spaces, said: “I love what Barker and Stonehouse does and spend a lot of time in Sussex so it will be fantastic to open the store and introduce the brand to the region.

“I’m also looking forward to sharing my top design tips in the hope I can help inspire those looking to makeover their homes.

“I’m also looking forward to sharing my top design tips in the hope I can help inspire those looking to makeover their homes.”

Customers attending the launch day will also have the chance to win a selfie with George as well as be entered into a prize draw to win £2,000 of vouchers to spend in-store.

Visitors will be able to enjoy a free ice cream and make the most of exclusive opening offers.

MD James Barker said: “We’re excited to welcome TV’s favourite architect George Clarke to open our new Hove store this spring.

“George is extremely popular thanks to his successful shows and we’re pleased that he is with us to launch the new store and share his stories and insight with visitors on the day.”

The firm has employed local tradesmen for the store build and has sourced materials from Sussex merchants as well.

At the warehouse staff will be using the latest computerised warehouse technology.

The Hove location will be Barker and Stonehouse’s second store in the south east following the opening of Battersea in London in 2013.

The store will open at 10am on April 1.

The question and answer session will start at 11.30am.