Our shop and café has won several awards, including best rural shop in Britain in 2019, as shown on BBC News (below). We also appeared on ITV Regional News.
The shop is in the centre of the award-winning village of Hampstead Norreys,
runner-up in Channel 4's 'Village of the Year' competition, 2018.
The shop featured heavily in the television programme - we welcomed Penelope Keith
(To the Manor Born) and Patrick Grant (Great British Sewing Bee) who described the shop as 'the beating heart of this village'.
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The shop is a new build, positioned in a beautiful courtyard. It opened on March 26th, 2011 as a result of a village parish plan open meeting held in 2006 at which 80% of the people requested a shop. It replaced the original village shop that closed in 1998 because it was no longer viable.
Backed by the wider community, a small group of dedicated volunteers spent some years researching what was possible, and it is thanks to their vision and determination that the shop is as it is today - the heart of Hampstead Norreys.
Painting by Mary Allan, copyright 2020
The shop and café are thriving. We are proud of all we have achieved but this couldn't have been done without our lovely staff and our many, many volunteers. The title of 'Best Rural Shop in Britain' is a testament to the many who have worked tirelessly to make our shop such a brilliant place to be.
In 2016 we extended the shop to create a café and kitchen, and a much needed customer loo. That we were able to do this was due to support by shareholders, volunteers and customers, and very generous grants from Power to Change and Greenham Common Trust.
The video of our shop is courtesy of ITV News.
Run by the community, for the community, the paid staff are supported by over 40 volunteers, aged 14 to 80+, who help in a variety of ways. Being a volunteer is a great way to meet others and it is fun. We have volunteers from neighbouring villages as well as from Hampstead Norreys - all are welcome.
Not all volunteers work on the shop floor. Some help by creating displays and organising our Facebook pages. Others help with money or with finding local products to sell in the shop. Some are part of our sustainability group that focuses on helping the shop to become more environmentally friendly. And we even have a sewing group who use recycled fabric to make bring-me-back bags for customer use.
We would love you to join us - to find out more ring 01635 202642 or email shoporders@btconnect.com
Stronger together!
We would love you to join us - to find out more ring 01635 202642 or email shoporders@btconnect.com
Stronger together!
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