Thorold Arms Village Shop, Marston, Lincolnshire
APPLICANT AND BACKGROUND
The applicant and her partner have many years of management experience at a successful high quality hotel in a nearby village. They took over the pub (approx 12 months ago), and have significantly improved the interior, developed a new menu using locally sourced seasonal produce, and stock a good range of real ales. As a result the pub is becoming well know for high quality food and drink. The applicant has the full support of the pub owner, who is providing the match funding.
No services currently exist in the village, the shop closed some three years ago and the Post Office closed in September 2001. The village is fairly isolated with no regular public transport to the nearest town of Grantham, which is 7 miles away. The nearest services (shop and garage) are in Barkston, which is 3 miles away. The shop will benefit the communities of Marston (population approx 300) and nearby Hougham (population approx 200). There is a village hall, church and school in Marston.
From customer feedback and interest in the shop idea, it was clear that there was great enthusiasm within the village for the proposals at the Thorold Arms. The two parish councils of Marston and Hougham supported the project.
PROJECT SUMMARY
The project will convert a room within the pub (currently the ladies wc) into a shop with internal access from the pub, and new external access to the public so that the shop can open independently. This is a small project and the main elements are the building works for shop followed by shop fitting and external signage. The shop will be open 7 days a week and be run by a new part time member of staff.
OUTCOMES
The new shop provides an important service and has made a valuable contribution to village life. The shop will provide an essential service to the local community, demonstrates the commitment of the pub towards becoming a central feature of village life, and contributes towards the long-term viability of the pub. The new shop stocks a wide range of local products, including fruit and vegetables, jams, chutneys, meats and cheeses, demonstrating a commitment to supporting local producers and farmers. The shop has also provided a local employment opportunity for a new part-time member of staff. The shop opened in the summer of 2007, on the day of the annual Pumpkin Show.
LESSONS TO LEARN
- The enthusiastic owner had knowledge of building projects and was able to manage the work day-to-day.
- The licensees had a clear idea about how the business would develop and had the full support of the pub owner.
- Complex planning issues and slow decision making of local authorities resulted in long development timescales.
- The shop had enthusiastic village and parish council support and the licensees regularly consult local people on a wide range of issues to ensure they keep heading in the right direction.
- The shop fittings were hand-built to a high standard, in order to achieve a very high quality of finish and match the traditional interior of the pub
PROJECT CAPITAL COSTS (EXCLUDING VAT)
- Total project capital costs £13,377.00
- Applicant contribution £3,377.00
- East Midlands Development Agency grant contribution £10,000.00
LICENSEE CONTACT: Mrs Bonita Cutts. Tel. 01400 250899
PUB OWNER: Alan Prince
PUB IS THE HUB CONTACT: Mr Hugh Wilson. Tel. 01423 568987
Thorold Arms case study.pdf