The Green Man in Scamblesby near Louth has opened a permanent village shop, providing new employment for two local people.
The Village Shop Scamblesby is situated in an old storeroom next to the pub with its own separate entrance and is open from 8.30am to 5.30pm from Tuesday to Saturday and from 12 midday to 5pm on Sunday. Anyone visiting the pub in the evening can also buy anything they need from the shop.
It sells newspapers, fresh bread, local dairy produce, including Myers Farm Eggs, fresh fruit and vegetables from Shaws in Louth, meat from Wards Butchers in Sleaford, Saints and Sinners Preserves, Olive Soy Candles and a full range of grocery essentials.
The shop has been refurbished and fitted out with a grant of £3,000 from Pub is The Hub’s Community Services Fund towards the overall cost and the idea was a result of the Covid shutdown in March.
Pub owner Richard Bradley explains: “While we were closed during lockdown, I realised that the villagers and surrounding area would benefit from having a village shop. I came across Pub is The Hub’s work following a search online for support available for village pubs. We had amazing support from Dave Allen the regional advisor with Pub is The Hub and, following our application, our grant was approved within days. From enquiring to the point of opening the shop, it only took six weeks.”
Richard Bradley and his business partner, Charles Nickerson, purchased the pub in September 2019 after it had been closed for 12 months. They spent three months completely refurbishing it and re-opened again in December 2019 with pub manager Jade Dillon at the helm, only to be closed again just three months later due to Covid.
Richard continued: “The Green Man had not been fully open for three years by the time we purchased the pub and it had lost its place at the heart of the village. When we re-opened at Christmas, we hosted the village choir and Christmas carol concert in a packed-out pub with many smiling faces. It was heart-breaking to have to shut the doors again.
“We are thrilled to be up and running again and with the addition of the shop we aim to be the hub of the village once again.”
Dave Allen from Pub is The Hub said: “Richard, Charles and Jade have worked their socks off to get this fantastic new service open for local residents as well as tourists visiting and staying in the area. We wish them all the success they deserve.”
The photograph above shows Richard Bradley with pub manager, Jade Dillon, outside the shop.
Read the full case study here.
