The doors officially opened at 10am to a crowd of excited shoppers, who flocked inside to admire our new state-of-the-art store.

Spread over two floors and 35,000 sq ft, our captivating new retail space is bursting with eclectic displays and fabulous furniture collections. From beautiful bedroom and dining displays to the latest accessories and lighting, there's everything you need to to make your house a Barker and Stonehouse.

We were joined for the day by special guest George Clarke; architect and presenter of TV shows including Amazing Spaces and The Restoration Man.

After officially opening the store and meeting customers, George took part in a Q&A with Telegraph Design Editor Talib Choudry.

As an expert in all things interior-related, we couldn't wait to get an insight into George's career and hear his top tips and advice. Watch the full interview here:

George talked to Talib about everything from his childhood growing up in Sunderland and memories of caravan holidays, to how he realised his dreams of becoming an architect and starting his own firm. He spoke about writing his first book and told the story of how he became the popular TV personality he is today.

We also learned that George is a big fan of iconic furniture brand Ercol and got some top tips on how to design the perfect family home!

Our new Hove store brings the Barker and Stonehouse experience to the south of England. Inspired by our flagship location in Teesside, the store features many eco-friendly credentials including the use of reclaimed and recycled materials throughout the building.

There's also a nod to the history of Barker and Stonehouse, with retro photographs and adverts as well as a reproduction of the motorbike that belonged to Managing Director James Barker’s grandfather.

After the success of our opening event, we look forward to welcoming even more visitors through our doors. Our Hove store is located at 184-186 Old Shoreham Road, just a short walk from the town centre with plenty of free on-site parking. Photos by Liz Finlayson/Vervate