| 2007 North West winners |
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| Written by Administrator | |
| Wednesday, 05 December 2007 | |
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And the North West’s Best Rural Retailers for 2007 are…. 1. Best Local Food Category: Steadman's Butchers 2. Best Shop / PO Category: Burton in Lonsdale Village Shop & PO 3. Best Diversification Category: Huntley’s of Samlesbury 4. Best Traditional Business Category: Alexander James of Pendlebury 1. Best Local Food Category: Steadman's Butchers 2 Finkle Street Sedbergh Cumbria LA10 5BZ www.steadmans-butchers.co.uk This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it Tom Fell, leader of the North West Regional judging panel says: “Garth Steadman is a true local hero, working with as many producers as he possibly can to give his community the best Cumbrian produce. His support and belief and his extremely popular shop, which has wide appeal, have helped the community bounce back from Foot and Mouth. Garth is very much at the hub of the community and there are very few events in Sedbergh which do not have his support either through providing incredible barbecues, or through his sponsorship. The shop is a pleasure to visit, and once of his nominations for this award described it as “a jewel in Sedbergh's crown - it would be difficult to envisage the town without it.” Garth describes his outfit as “a modern butchers with Traditional values”- certainly with people like him in business our traditional skills and businesses have a future.” 2. Best Shop / PO Category: Burton in Lonsdale Village Shop & PO High Street Burton-in-Lonsdale Carnforth Lancashire LA6 3JU www.burton-in-lonsdale.net/village_shop.htm This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it Tom says: “This shop is testament to what a community can do for itself. A community run enterprise, saved from closure by the village and only open for two and a half years, Burton Village Shop is without question the heart of the village. At a time when an axe is hanging over many of our Post Offices it is important to shout about the social importance, especially for the elderly, of our local branches, and sing the praises of people like Karen Padgett who understand all too well that the community would be a poorer place without her hard work and care”. 3. Best Diversification Category: Huntley’s of Samlesbury Huntley Gate Farm Whalley Road Samlesbury Preston Lancashire PR5 0UN www.huntleys.co.uk This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it 01772 877123 Tom says: “This diversification is a wonderful operation which is still in progress. Since the original diversification six years ago, Eddie’s place has grown from a farm shop selling local produce and home-made ice cream, to firm favourite in the area. The farm shop and restaurant are exceptional and sell the very best of local produce, and a new food hall is under construction which will incorporate a bakery and jam-factory – no food miles here! This is a warm and friendly place which is giving so much to the local area, from loaning freezers free of charge to church fetes over the summer to having the fruit field run by a social enterprise group, helping less-abled people. This diversification shows the true spirit of rural enterprise and I am very proud to be recommending it to the national judging panel.” 4. Best Traditional Business Category: Alexander James of Pendlebury 6 Mossfield Road Pendlebury Manchester M27 6EN 01617 936340 http://www.alexander-james.co.uk/ Tom says: “Alan Little and his family represent the best of our rural heritage and just keep getting better and better. They took the UK Best Rural Retailer award last year and have been declared the best in the North West again because they continue to expand, spreading the word about British textiles and design further and further afield. This family run outfitters business deserves as much praise as we can give it; we are used to cheap imports bought off the peg but a coat from Alexander James will last a lifetime and is a great advertisement for the British clothing industry. Like rural life, Alexander James will stand the test of time.” |
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| Last Updated ( Friday, 14 December 2007 ) |
