A RURAL pub licensee is celebrating the start of work on a new village shop in its car park which it is hoped will become the hub of its community.
The shop at The Sandstone, Brown Knowl, near Broxton, will stock local produce and essential groceries and replace lost services following the closure of the village’s post office and shop.
The proposal, supported by pub owner Bolesworth Estates, is aimed at rekindling community spirit by providing an affordable and convenient shop with added services which could include parcel collection for locals.
The shop, which is being converted from an existing garage, is being designed and built on traditional lines by a team of student bricklayers and joiners from Reaseheath College in Nantwich.
The scheme has also received business support from experts at Reaseheath’s Enterprise Delivery Hub.
When the shop is opened next year it will see history repeating itself, as the pub had a village shop many years ago when it was named the Royal Oak.
It is hoped the new business will be successful enough to take on staff.
Licensee Ian Bowyer is intending to use the shop as an outlet for the fine local food available in the pub’s specialist restaurant such as beef produced on the Cholmondeley estate, Cheshire Farm ice cream and cheese and locally sourced vegetables. He also expects to stock groceries and other day-to-day items ordered by residents.
He said: “The Sandstone pub has a loyal following and customers often ask us where our ingredients come from.
“We pride ourselves on using quality, locally sourced produce and will buy in extra to stock the shop.
“We see the shop as very much answering a community need and also a way of supporting the growing interest in local foods.”
David Tanswell, surveyor for Bolesworth Estates, said: “Ian has always had the idea of promoting the pub as a real community asset and the opening of a village shop has been planned from day one as part of his tenancy.”
