Specsavers South Harrow marked its 18th anniversary with a celebration attended by the Mayor and Mayoress of Harrow.
The event also celebrated a £150,000 investment in a major store renovation. Guests included Hearing Dogs for Deaf People charity ambassador Louise Halvey and her cocker spaniel ‘Flora’.
The celebration was a tribute to the store directors and team, recognising their dedication to providing excellent customer care in the South Harrow community over the past 18 years. The store has become a beacon of healthcare provision on the high street.
The directors, Hiral Kotecha, ophthalmic optician, and Alok Kotecha, retail director, combined the 18th birthday celebrations with the official relaunch of the store. The recent investment in upgrading the business includes enhanced diagnostic testing equipment and the latest Specsavers branding. Cllr Salim Chowdhury and Mrs. Jesmin Chowdhury officiated at the event.
Alok Kotecha said: “We are thrilled that the Mayor and Mayoress have been part of such an important day for us. Today marks a key milestone following our recent investment into the business with the upgraded diagnostic testing equipment and latest Specsavers branding and store design. We’re looking forward to the future and to being part of our community for many more years to come.”
During the event, the Mayor and Mayoress toured the newly upgraded store, meeting the team and guests, including representatives from Optegra, SpaMedica, and the Specsavers Greater London team.
Louise Halvey engaged with customers, discussing her charity’s work in training dogs to assist deaf people by alerting them to important sounds, such as doorbells and fire alarms. She highlighted how the charity helps deaf people reconnect with life and overcome isolation.
The Mayor officially relaunched the store by cutting the green ribbon. He praised the team’s commitment to customer and community service, then joined Hiral and Alok in cutting the birthday cake.
Hiral Kotecha, who has served as ophthalmic director for the past seven years, shared his pride in the team’s achievements: “We are delighted that the Mayor and Mayoress have been part of our celebrations. We are very proud of our team and the dedication of everyone to ensuring we deliver the very best clinical care and customer service to our loyal customers.”
Since opening in 2006, Specsavers South Harrow has conducted sight tests for nearly 22,000 customers and dispensed over 300,000 pairs of glasses. Its audiology centre has been operational for more than 10 years, serving over 6,000 patients.
For those interested, the store has introduced new diagnostic equipment for eye exams, including a visual fields analyser and Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT). These advanced tools can identify serious eye conditions much earlier than traditional methods. The OCT scan is available for £10, and its images are stored for ongoing monitoring of eye health.
Additionally, the store has an audiology center equipped with a soundproof booth for hearing tests and modern micro-suction equipment for wax removal. Specsavers South Harrow offers three test rooms, dedicated areas for diagnostic testing, and improved facilities for contact lens fittings.
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