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. 

NOVEMBER IS A MONTH of transitions between the vibrant hues of autumn and the frosty mornings of early winter. The trees are slowly losing their autumnal leaves and the nights are drawing in.

Remember the shop will be closing early on Sundays once the clocks change: from Sunday 26th October the shop will close at 2pm (café at 1pm). Make sure to pop in in time for your Sunday essentials!

With the colder weather approaching, what can be better than a bowl of hot soup? We have a great selection of soups from the The Real Soup Company who recently won a great taste award. They come in handy grab-and-go pots which can be heated up and taken on your travels.

In the age of rising costs and the hassle of trying to get to Stow or Chipping Norton, you might be surprised to learn that many everyday items we sell in the shop are actually cheaper. We check our prices regularly against supermarkets and we focus on buying locally whenever possible. When you add in the cost of fuel and time the case becomes even stronger: shopping locally saves you more than just money! If you haven’t shopped with us, why not challenge us and compare what you’d pay here with your usual supermarket spend.

Looking for a cosy bite to eat without leaving the village? We are now serving up freshly-made toasties, perfect for a quick lunch or a leisurely catch-up over coffee. Eat in or take away.

Every year we ask for feedback from our customers and others in the village by means of a survey. The core questions remain the same year on year, and this helps us measure our performance. We would like feedback from those who don’t use the shop as well as regulars. Please fill in the questionnaire on the facing page, or better still scan the QR code and fill it in online.

We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all our fantastic volunteers who give their time, energy and smiles to keep the shop and café running smoothly. Your dedication helps make our village shop more than just a place to buy essentials—you make it a place of warmth, connection and kindness.

We couldn’t do it without you – THANK YOU