THE VILLAGE ENJOYED a particularly busy Easter period this year with plenty of visitors coming to explore the area. The shop and café were at the heart of the activity welcoming both familiar faces and new customers throughout the holidays.

May is the month of sunshine, blooming flowers and bright sunny days. Spring has truly arrived in Bledington and with it comes one of the season’s most anticipated treats: fresh strawberries. We now have locally-sourced strawberries, bringing a taste of early summer. Known for their sweet-ness and vibrant flavour, these strawberries are always popular.

Joining them on the shelves are other seasonal favourites including fresh asparagus and Jersey new potatoes. Perfect for light spring meals, these ingredients offer a simple way to enjoy the best of British produce whether paired together, served with a touch of butter or included in a family roast.

The arrival of these seasonal items reflects the shop’s continued commitment to supporting local growers and providing high quality produce.

Did you know the shop receives a delivery of fresh meat from R & D Walkers Butchers every day? If there is anything you would like to order from them, please do get in touch and we can organise everything. Have you visited the café recently and enjoyed one of our hot tasty savouries? Some of our favourites are ham and cheese toastie or classic tuna melt and are available throughout the day.

On behalf of the North Cotswold Foodbank we would like to thank everyone in the village who has generously supported our ongoing collection for the Cotswold Foodbank.

From January to March this year we are delighted to share that  over 81kg of essential food and household products have been donated through the shop. This is a fantastic contribution and will make a real difference to individuals and families in need across the local area. Donations can continue to bedropped off at the shop during normal opening hours. We encourage anyone who can give to please consider adding an extra item or two to their weekly shop. Every contribution no matter how small adds up to make a meaningful impact.

A heartfelt thank you goes to all our wonderful volunteers whose time and dedication keep the shop and café running so smoothly.

Don’t forget our volunteer incentive scheme you could win a £50 voucher as a token of appreciation. The shop is open every day from 9.00 am to 5.00pm, apart from Sundays when closing time is 4pm. Our café closes one hour before the shop. We look forward to seeing you all very soon.

MARCH is a wonderful “in between” month – the last of winter’s comfort foods mingling with the first hopeful signs of spring. Here at Bledington shop our shelves are filling with the very best of seasonal local produce.  Eating seasonally means fresher flavours, better value and supporting British growers. This month we can look forward to purple sprouting broccoli, spring greens and savoy cabbage. We also get a delivery each day of spring daffodils. 

On Tuesday 3rd March representatives from Gigaclear will be joining us in the café for a friendly drop in session. If you would like to find out more about hyper-fast fibre broadband in our village, this is a great opportunity to ask questions and explore your options. Whether you work from home, stream TV or simply want faster and more reliable internet, do pop in for a informal chat and a free drink. No need to book, just drop by and say hello. 

Mother’s Day falls this year on Sunday 15th March 2026. A wonderful reason to show appreciation for mums, grandmothers and all those who care for us. We have lots of goodies in the shop to show your love. Beautiful cards, delicious chocolates and stunning flowers.

Every purchase at Bledington Community Shop helps keep our village vibrant and connected. As a community-owned shop, your support truly makes a difference.  Our wonderful volunteers are at the heart of everything we do. To say thank you and to encourage a few new faces to join the team we are launching a volunteer prize draw. For every shift you complete all volunteers will be entered into a draw to win a £50 voucher to spend in the shop.

Here’s to a dry and sunny March and a wonderful time to celebrate the amazing Mums in our lives.