Publicans Rebecca and Joseph Richards have come to the rescue of local residents by opening a new village store at The Royal Oak Hotel, in Beckermet, Cumbria.
Rebecca and Joseph Richards, outside the Royal Oak, Beckermet. Photograph: Pub is the Hub
The village store was opened with expert help and a Community Services Fund grant from Pub is The Hub, the not-for-profit organisation that helps pubs to diversify and provide essential local services.
The shop has been opened in a former pool room after the publicans took over the Royal Oak in March 2021. The premises had been closed for two years, but was re-opened after a refurbishment with a focus on good quality food. This is proving popular with local diners.
The store is needed in the village as there are no other shops, and it is around four miles to the nearest supermarket. Many villagers rely on family and friends to deliver shopping as there are limited transport links, too.
The shop, which opens between 9am and 8pm daily, offers essentials such as bread, milk, and local produce, as well as take-away foods, including pizza and fish and chips.
Rebecca said: “It has been such a challenging time for local people and the village store is proving to be such a lifeline. Customers have asked that we start to stock meat products, such as bacon and sausages, so we are already talking to a local butcher to broaden the range we offer.
“We have had such great support and positive feedback from villagers when we re-opened the pub and introduced the new store. A lot of new faces have come in to use the shop, and we love it when customers stop for a chat, so we can see how they are doing.”
Pub is The Hub regional advisor, Malcolm Harrison, said: “The store’s opening has really helped Beckermet residents, who now have somewhere to go for their essentials, take-away food, and also to have some of that much-needed social interaction.
“Rebecca and Joseph have stepped in to help the villagers of Beckermet, offering not just a village store, but a great pub that a lot of support from those living locally.”
