RESIDENTS of the Bride Valley have a new opportunity for some retail therapy – in the pub.

A community village shop has opened at the Crown Inn in Puncknowle.

And as honorary village ‘mayor’ for the day Michael Ebdon, one of the longest standing residents of neighbouring Swyre, did the honours in declaring the shop open for business.

Mine hosts Blanche and Alex Alexander who took over at the Crown in January, wanted to find a good use for an unused storage area.

With assistance from The Pub is the Hub organisation and backing from the brewery, Palmers, the shelves were soon stacked and fridges and freezers filled with fruit, veg, meat, sweets and basic provisions.

Mrs Alexander said the opening day was ‘absolutely fantastic’.

“The place was rammed and someone said there was a whole surge of people coming down the road.

“We sold loads of bits and bobs.

“The elderly people locally obviously love it as it means they don’t have to get on a bus to find a shop.

“We see a lot of people who come up from West Bexington.

“A lot of children come in running errands or for the sweets. We do pre-ordered Sunday papers and so people can come in, pick up a paper and relax with a bacon sandwich.

“We do takeaway pizzas too and people like to pick up a tub of ice-cream to have afterwards.

“The Pub is the Hub helped us with a grant to enable us to buy the fridges and freezers and local councillor John Russell helped us sort out the planning.

“Palmers have been great too and Michael Ebdon was only too pleased to do the honours!”

The Crown Inn community shop’s opening hours are from 9am to 9pm Mondays to Saturdays and 9am to 6pm on Sundays.