Bretforton Community Shop story

Our history

It all began when we, like many other villages and rural communities, lost our only shop. Our vision of a new Shop was formed.

Our story

How Bretforton Community Shop began

When Bretforton Post Office & Shop closed on 27 April 2013, the Parish Council held a meeting to discuss the situation and explore options for the future. There was widespread support for a Community Shop in Bretforton and so a steering committee was formed to take this forward.

Our journey

Bretforton Community Shop Our journey
April 2013 Old shop closes First time no village shop for 100 years
November 2013 Village meeting Under the auspices of the Parish Council
Spring 2014 Planning Became a member of the Plunkett Foundation, finalised Business Plan, fundraising starts
Summer 2014 Building Work commences

Bretforton Community Shop The journey continues
Autumn 2014 Recruitment Shop manager starts
Winter 2014 Volunteers Recruited and trained
Winter 2014 Preparing for opening Shop fit, ranging, purchase EPoS & card systems & hardware Soft opening
December 2014 Grand opening A celebration with villagers, the Silver Band, morris men & Santa!

Bretforton Community Shop grand opening

Bretforton Community Shop was formally opened on Saturday, 13th December 2014. Bretforton asparagus grower Billy Byrd, whose family have lived in the area for seven hundred years, was on hand for the opening ceremony. He was joined by 92 year-old Sid Cleaver, a lifelong Bretforton resident who served as a Spitfire pilot during the war, to jointly cut the ribbon and declare the shop open.

Ahead of the opening, the Shop was blessed by the Rev Richard Court, while a large crowd of Shop members, village residents and supporters were treated to music from Bretforton Silver Band and dancing from Pebworth Morris Men as they enjoyed mulled wine and mince pies.