Berrynarbor Community Shop and Post Office

Congratulations to Berrynarbor Community Shop for winning the title of 'The Best Shop and Post Office in the South West, 2008' in the Countryside Alliance Awards. The shop made it to the national finals.
Opening Hours

8.30am - 12.30pm and 1.30pm - 5.30pm Monday - Saturday (exc Wednesday)
8.30am - 12.30pm Wednesday
9am - 12.30pm Sunday
 
Berrynarbor Community Shop and Post Office has gone from strength to strength. After four years of dedicated and determined fundraising and planning, and with financial support and advice from the Plunkett Foundation Village CORE program, the shop moved into purpose-built premises in 2008. It continues to be staffed by nearly 30 volunteers, who, along with the shop’s managers, form the enthusiastic team behind this thriving rural social enterprise.
 
The shop – which has a small café and plans to install an internet point – stocks a wide range of local produce, from freshly-baked bread and pies, to cider, ice cream and locally-reared meat. Berrynarbor is also taking part in a Plunkett Foundation-led pilot scheme to encourage shoppers to ‘Look for Local Food’ as part of the Making Local Food Work program, and recent figures show that approximately one third of the food sold in the shop is local. This reflects the shop’s determination to be an asset not just to the village but to producers, suppliers and the local economy as a whole.
 
Case studies
Berrynarbour community shop unveiling new premises -
http://www.cooperatives-uk.coop/News/berrynarborShop
 
Shop nominated for www.thelocalshop.com community heroes award
Berrynarbor Community Shop was officially opened in October 2004 after a community co-operative was formed to prevent the shop and post office closing down following the retirement of the existing postmaster.  Alex Parke, Secretary for the Berrynarbor Community Enterprise, believes that the shop is central to their community:  “The belief is that the village shop and sub post office is one of the key facilities, the heart of any village.  This is also confirmed by the fact that at least 30 of the volunteers are still happy working in the shop, the villagers enjoy shopping there and meeting their friends, and that the turnover is up by about 80% on that achieved in the previous year by the previous owner.”
 Article from page 9 of http://www.thelocalshop.com/Documents/thelocalshop.com%20issue%2095%20NEW.pdf