The Cross Keys in Dilham, near North Walsham, opened a new farm shop and delicatessen alongside the pub today.
North Norfolk MP, Norman Lamb, officially unveiled the new shop; the first of Pub is The Hub’s Community Service projects to be completed after the scheme was launched in June at the Royal Norfolk Show.
The opening of the ‘Convenience Store – Farm Shop and Delicatessen’ in Dilham is the first of a series of new services being rolled in pubs across Norfolk as part of the scheme, which uses public houses as centres to provide essential services for local communities, from shops and meals on wheels to fitness classes and bee keeping.
Norfolk County Council has created a fund of £30,000 to support Norfolk pubs to create community facilities and services where there are no others in the local area. Pubs can apply for grants of up to £4,000 to fund projects that would meet a local need or can help the community to thrive.
The Cross Keys publicans, Paul and Karen Grothier, applied for £4,000 as part of the project and have been working since June to get the new shop open. The convenience store is the only shop in the village of Dilham, so is likely to become a vital resource for local people.
Bev Spratt, Chairman of Norfolk County Council’s Economic Development Sub-Committee, said: “This is a truly excellent example of just how far the Local Community Services Fund can go. I know the area and I know that the village of Dilham has been crying out for this kind of community store for many years.
“Not only will the shop hugely benefit residents in the village who have difficulty travelling, it will also offer a boost to the local economy by using local suppliers for all its produce. Great credit should go to all those who have put hard work into getting this started and I hope this is the first of many successes from this year’s Pub is The Hub projects across the county.”
Shown in the photograph from left to right: Licensee Paul Gorthier, Terry Stork, Karen Grothier, Stan Hebborn, Norman Lamb MP & Eric Seward from Norfolk County Council.