The story behind the store
After the post office and local store closed its doors a few years ago there has been no local amenities in the village and many residents felt that the village had lost its heart. One such person was John Clayton.
One day in 2016 John decided to take things in hand, knocked on the door of another local resident Richard Finn and said – how about resurrecting the store in the village?
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This idea was favourably received. A steering committee was formed and several other willing volunteers came forward to offer their skills. So began the hard work of finding sponsorship, securing grants and applying for the post office. Slow, at times frustrating and time consuming but we got there and four years later the dream became a reality. We employed our brilliant manager Louise and the store finally opened its doors on January 11th 2020 to an enthusiastic crowd.
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We would like to thank all our benefactors and local residents who without them this shop would not have happened.
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Our Mission
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A village store is integral to a community and a lifeline for many people who for whatever reason cannot easily get out and about. We’re a store with a mission to serve not just our village but the wider community.
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We want to make it easier for our residents to do their shopping.
We want to make it a venue for visitors.
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Given our location, Detling Community Store is a handy stop off for walkers, cyclists and visitors coming along the Pilgrims Way. We’re open 7 days a week. So why not take a break in our coffee shop, admire the views and sample one of our local cakes. We've got bike parking, and tools if you need to fix your bike. We'll also fill your water bottles for free, and have a water bowl for our doggy visitors too.
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And we want to make it a destination point for the wider community too.
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If you want to shop with a conscience, our community store is not only convenient but green. We’ve said no to plastic and yes to paper bags. We have a range of refillable items, including washing up liquids, soaps and oils.
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Whatever your reason for visiting us, we’re sure you’ll like what you see!