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The Berkshire winners in the Countryside Alliance’s second annual Best Rural Retailer competition have been judged, and will now go up against other counties in the South to win an overall regional title and a shot at national glory. The judging panel, led by Countryside Alliance Southern Regional Director Sara Rutherford, has chosen the following category winners for Berkshire, with Kingsclere claiming titles in two categories: Best Local Food Retailer - Organically Speaking, Hartney Witney. Sara says: “This is the village shop. Everyone knows everyone. There is an excellent range and the shop is hugely supportive of local produce – so much so that they were finalists in BBC TV Food Awards and also Trade Awards. Organically Speaking is a new arm to an existing business, will do local deliveries, holds many community events such as tastings for new products and promotion of local products and is a mine of local information with a regular newsletter. This shop is a great community player Best Shop / PO - Swan Street Stores, Kingsclere. Sara says: “Kingsclere is clearly an amazing local community with great values. Almost lost 12 years ago it has been turned around by the current owner, Wynford Morgan, and is now a thriving community centre that supports local charities and fund raising events. Swan Street stores is cheery, well stocked, delivers to the housebound and, according to locals, is so good it is rarely necessary to shop outside of Kingsclere.” Best Diversification - Fifield Polo Club, Windsor. Sara says: “This is an amazing diversification which has been transformed from a failing farm/livery to a fast growing low goal polo club (and the only one with a purpose built club room which has doubled as a wedding reception venue for locals) in only 8 months. Fifield is now in its second season. Local people are employed, including a farm contractor who is now the polo club ground maintenance man. Fifield is bringing business to the area for B&Bs (for the many overseas visiting players staying over), the pub etc and is growing fast in size and reputation. The emphasis here is come and play polo and have fun!” Best Traditional Business - The Village Butcher, Kingsclere. Sara says: “Our second county winner for Kingsclere, village hub Sue Trimble, who runs the Village Butcher, gave us a very warm welcome. Sue is keen to complement, not compete with, her fellow retailers in the village, which clearly works well for the whole community. Sue clearly believes in local produce for local people and stocks a wonderful range of local meats and game, cheeses and relishes.” |
