Burton Village Shop
Community store with winning recipe...
If you spot a stampede in the vicinity of Burton Village Stores then that''s probably because Bill and Janet Whitaker from Whaitber Farm, Westhouse, have just delivered another case of Limestone Country Beef from Blue Greys, Highland and Galloway cattle grazed on the slopes of Ingleborough.
The meat which is hung for 21 days in order to guarantee the very best texture and flavour isn''t mass produced. But subject to availability doesn''t stop the beef''s devoted Burton Village Stores following.
"It simply flies out of here," said Chris Alston, shop manager and founding member of the village stores.
The community rallied round after the shop had been closed for several months. With the help of a whopping great £129,000 grant from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, and the £10 shareholding stakes of nearly 200 villagers, the stores re-opened on April 4 last year with a healthy list of volunteers to help man the pumps as well as some paid members of staff.
Twelve months on, Burton Village Stores is surviving but so that everyone doesn''t take that survival for granted, Chris and fellow trustee Cathy Birtwistle asked Food & Drink to help remind everyone what a marvellous asset they had on their doorstep.
"People do get complacent," said Cathy. "But we have got to increase our sales - no business that''s making a profit will go bankrupt."
To that end, Chris, Cathy and the rest of the team are constantly trying to source new products to tempt local tastebuds. So, alongside regular contributors'' such as Mansergh Hall meat from Kirkby Lonsdale, and organic fruit and vegetables from Growing with Grace at Clapham, you will often find new treats on the block such as Tastefully Different jams and chutneys from the Honeycomb people at Galgate near Lancaster.
And turning heads in recent weeks have been the new look cakes and puddings from the Oakroyd Bakery at Bentham.
BVS also boasts milk from the Lune Valley, Woodalls of Waberthwaite bacon, Lowther (Penrith) chicken and Forest of Bowland butter. There''s a tempting range of British cheeses too and bread which is baked-off fresh in store every day.
However, it''s not just on choice and a lot of locally-sourced choice too - that community-run ventures like this village shop can beat the big boys.
"People assume that the supermarket equivalent will be a lot cheaper but in many instances our prices are way lower," said Cathy.
The opening times are convenient too from seven in the morning until seven in the evening, Monday to Friday; then Saturday morning, Saturday evening and Sunday morning at the weekend.
Such service is in many instances only made possible thanks to the volunteers who regularly contribute their time and energy to keep the stores open people like pensioners Ella Holmes and Mary Edmondson who spend their Wednesday afternoons pricing up the new deliveries ready for the shelf-stackers.
There are always volunteers aplenty for the tasting weekends too, hardly surprising when the goodies in the spotlight are from the kitchens of the Suffolk Mud people, for example Blushed Tomato Mayo and Balsamic Sauce to name but two stunners from the range.
As befits its community status, BVS also gives over space in the shop to help fund raise for local charities.
Although it can't be classed as a caf, the two tables the shop is allowed for cups of tea and a biscuit do tempt many walkers and cyclists passing through the village. Unfortunately, they have to eat their duly purchased sarnies outdoors - rules, regulations, red tape and all that!
"We would need planning permission to change and that''s too expensive," explained Chris, a committed local foodie who is extremely proud of the people power invested in the shop.
For it to have a future it must continue to develop the range of stock and to offer new services. To that end BVS is a dropping off point for Growing with Grace; there's a new hamper service; and word is going out to all the holiday cottages and caravan parks in the area to drum up new custom.
As for those lucky enough to have Burton Village Stores on their doorstep, Cathy commented: "I hope this article will draw people''s attention to us, to remind people who live in the village about us but also to remind the residents of surrounding villages who don''t have a shop at all."
A lot of people have worked very hard to get Burton-in-Lonsdale's community shop where it is today and to those in the know it's worth its weight in gold. For those yet to be converted to the buy local'' cause, be advised it needn''t cost a fortune the feel good factor alone of investing'' in your community is priceless.
Any local food producers looking for new outlets can contact Chris Alston or Cathy Birtwistle at Burton Village Stores on 015242-63397.
Article By Gillian Cowburn from the Westmorland Gazette
Click here to access the article.
7th April 2006
In 2008 the Village Shop won best rural retailer in NW award and has been a regional finalist for the past three years.Tom Fell, leader of the North West Regional judging panel commented, “This shop is testament to what a community can do for itself. A community run enterprise, saved from closure by the village and only open for two and a half years, Burton Village Shop is without question the heart of the village."