Managers: Sarah and Mark
Phone: 01643 841582
The benefits of having a shop in our community are numerous and important. The village shop acts as an informal social centre; it’s a place to meet neighbours and to catch up on village news and issues. The Village Shop is often the only social meeting point for some residents, and for many elderly people this can be the only opportunity to meet up with other villagers.
It is also a place to advertise jobs, items for sale and wanted, read about local events and to buy event tickets. It can be a drop-off and collection point for parcels. It is an important information point for delivery drivers, visitors, health workers and house-hunters, as well as a safe place for children to learn how to shop.
The shop offers a Post Office service, together with an enormous range of goods and services, such as an off-licence section, fresh bread and pastries, chilled and frozen products, general groceries, newspapers, magazines and stationery, fresh ham, sausages and bacon from Kendle Farm, Dulverton. Local produce is also stocked, including a tasty selection of Devon Hawkridge cheese, freshly baked cakes and tray bakes from Jen’s Pantry (based in Williton), and local Styles ice cream.
In addition to the retail shop we provide a warm welcome to Skye’s Bar, adjacent to the shop, which opens as the village ‘pub’ on Friday evenings from 5pm – 9pm, and as Mr B’s cafe on Thursdays and Saturday mornings from 10am – 1pm. With an extensive menu of barista coffees to choose from, plus a delicious selection of croissants, cakes, tiffin, etc, the cafe is the perfect place to meet up with friends and neighbours. In the summertime there is extra seating outside in the garden in the sunshine.
Our Village Shop is a tremendous facility for such a small village!
OPENING HOURS
Monday to Friday 8.30am – 1.00pm
Saturday 9.00am – 1.00pm
Sunday – closed. Pre-ordered newspapers may be collected from the rack outside the shop.
Our Post Office hours are:
Monday to Friday 9.00am – 12.45pm
Skye’s Bar opens 5.00pm – 9.00pm on Fridays
Mr B’s Barista Cafe opens 10.00am – 1.00pm on Thursdays and Saturdays
Once again, thank you to everyone for your continued support.
Sarah and Mark
Other services
- MEDICATION: We are the distribution agent for the Dunster Surgery and you can collect your medication from the Village Shop.
- BOOK EXCHANGE: We have several hundred books for purchase at approximately 80p each. There is a refund if you return the book in exchange for another
- HONEY: Local honey available, made in Wootton Courtenay
- LYNTON CINEMA: Their current programme is advertised on the shop door.
- EXMOOR INFORMATION: We keep a selection of local walks, maps and information provided by the Exmoor Tourist Information. Most of this is free
THE VILLAGERS’ STORES
“At the heart of our community”
Company Information
Wootton Courtenay Villagers’ Stores Ltd.
Registered Company Number 02571795
Just over 30 years ago, the village shop was in private ownership and there was a real danger of it having to close, as was happening in so many villages across the country. In 1991, to prevent this from happening a committed group of villagers worked proactively and tirelessly to establish a company: Wootton Courtenay Villagers’ Stores Ltd. The company structure was utilised to purchase the freehold of the shop, save it from closure and maintain the facilities for the benefit of the village. The initial capital of the company to enable this was provided by residents of the village.
Wootton Courtenay Villagers’ Stores Ltd. continues to be a non-profit making organisation run by volunteer Directors who work to ensure the continuance of The Villagers’ Stores, a facility that is a valued by our village community. There is little doubt that the existence of this facility is a major attraction to newcomers and adds to the value of all properties.
Over the last three decades we have had a number of tenants who have successfully built up the business and expanded the facilities on offer. However, over time difficulties had arisen in the transfer of the business, which included the Post Office contract, from one tenant to another and this led to the Board making the decision in 2023 to buy back the ‘business’ and the Post Office contract. This gave the Board much more control and allowed us to relet the shop to Sarah Fox and Mark Burgess on terms which are much more attractive to them, with less risk to both sides.
In order to finance this restructuring and also to carry out essential upgrading of the building to comply with present standards and regulations, a resolution was passed at the companies’ AGM on the 28th September 2023 enabling the Directors to issue a new batch of shares in the company. The number of shares authorised to be sold (at any time up to the 28th September 2028) was set with a view to paying off loans which had been made by villagers to buy back the business and restructuring, but also to carry out the immediate improvement works required and future improvements. In this way the Board believes the continued success of the shop, Post Office, bar and other amenities can be secured. Any villagers who may be interested in purchasing shares to help protect the long-term future of the Villagers’ Stores are encouraged to contact our Company Secretary: wcvscompsec@gmail.com
Sarah and Mark have had a significant positive impact on our wonderful village facility:
• The Shop provides an increased choice of food provisions and an eclectic range of locally made gifts, e.g. jewellery, ceramics and cards.
• Skye’s Bar is going from strength to strength; it is really well attended on a Friday evening and is a great venue to catch up with friends, old and new.
• The Café provision on Thursdays and Saturdays has been a real hit across the village. “Mr B”, our very own Barista, serves a great cup of coffee (alongside lovely cakes) and Sarah has created a pleasant and welcoming environment for villagers to enjoy.
To ensure the long-term viability of the Villagers’ Stores it is essential that it receives support from villagers, who are encouraged to purchase shares and to regularly use the Shop, Post Office, Café and Skye’s Bar. If you have any questions or require any further information on the way our company operates, please contact us on: wcvsboard@gmail.com
Wootton Courtenay Villagers’ Stores Board of Directors, August 2024:
Barbara O’Keefe (Chair)
Kate McKenzie (Company Secretary)
Dee Binnie (Treasurer)
Rob Billson
Paul Scott
Wootton Courtenay 