Duchy home farm shop

[xxtetburyyouthxx]

Has anyone heard that Prince Charles has bought the shop next

to lloyds bank and it is going to be duchy home farm shop??

is it true???

thx

[HI]

yes according to the butcher!

[Angus]

No! Never! That would be great!

[Lizzie]

I've heard it's going to be a Highgrove shop - a bit different to a farm shop - more stuff like candles (yes more candles) and the duchy biscuits etc - potentially damaging existing businesses that already sell this stuff. Hopefully I'm wrong - it would be great to see a good greengrocer in Tetbury.

[200livi]

That would be OK- but we do have the amazing Deli on the corner! Yes- and we do need a greencrocer in Tetbury- but I think that people now use the big chain supermarkets rather that little greencrocers!!!

[BOGRAT]

It all sounds like a very good idea, but regardless of the actual stock (Candles or Veg) does Tetbury really need another shop catering to the more expensive end of the market. In this case potentially charging a premium for fruit and veg because it is A. Organic, and B. Has been grown in a royal field. If our concern is to help the small trader compete with the big supermarkets then perhaps we should look at the property prices and buisiness rates in Tetbury which effectivly preclude normal small town shops from starting. Far be it for me to rant, I would love to support the small traders in Tetbury but to be honest I really dont have too much use for £4 a bottle premium lager, Caviar, or 17th century fruit knives.

[newishtotetbury]

I cannot comment on business rates etc as I have no idea what they are. However, I would love to be able to buy fruit and veg from a local greengrocer. At the moment I buy fresh veg from a farm shop in Eastington, as well as (and I shudder to admit it) from Tesco. Meat always comes from the butcher and fish from Williams in Nailsworth I dread to think how many food miles my quest to "buy local" adds!!!

I would prefer not to have to use Tesco at all, but it does have its uses. However, in terms of fresh produce a greengrocer and a fishmonger in Tetbury would be amazing. There is an argument that they would not be viable due to insufficient support, however my (anecdotal) experience of small towns is that this may not be true. I used to live in Bishops Cleeve, near Cheltenham, and they have a thriving greengrocer and butcher, despite the presence of a Tesco and a Lidl. I have also lived in Bideford, Devon, and despite several supermarkets, a greengrocer, butcher and a fishmonger, all survived and thrived. In fact the fishmonger was also the chip shop (which was a great idea!!).

So fingers crossed that instead of the trendy and the kitsch, one of our stores may one day fill this void (though perhaps I won't hold my breath)....

[Angus]

Does anyone know when the new Duchy shop is due to open? The building shell seems complete so the rest should be completed soon surely!

Also what is going to be where the 'Pia Taylor' shop used to be?

:-)

[E1XM9CA]

Thank goodness. Maybe now it means Tesco can get rid of all that organic crap, expand the store and put normal food back on the shelves.

[Angus]

How sad. You really do sound like a Tesco shopper. Sad and narrow minded.

[Monica mary]

Just been reading all the comments on the pros and cons of PPOrganic food and manufactured food from Supermarkets.
Thinking back fifty odd years ago,before you were all born we had far more choice in Tetbury than you have now,
We had four large Grocery shops plus the little corner stores,three good butcher shops,two fish shops(wet fish) three greengrocers,plus the usual D.I Y shops and numerous others.
As for Organic food,most people had either a vegie garden where they grew their own or an allottment so they were all eating organic food,and an afterthought,no more than two Antique Shops.
I am not saying that was the good old days but just telling you how it was and what do you think was the best?

[Angus]

Monica, yes you were lucky. Tetbury is much better served than a lot of market towns in the West Country though. There are excellent delis' and there is still a great butcher. Tesco is just terrible; it will be the death-nell for the town in the long run. I still try and buy my food from local shops in the town or at the very worst from farmers markets nearby. I am sure that some will think that I am a trying to look 'posh', but buying from a local source is common sense to me. If I really need something that I can't find in town, I use Waitrose in Bath or Cirencester! I NEVER use Tesco! AT least Waitrose is run as a co-operative!

[Mrs Epsilon]

So is it a farm shop, a greengrocers or another ubiquitous candle and nick-nack shop? We can only wait and see. Meanwhile, there's been a bit of a kerfuffle about the sign they want to put outside it. GCSE Art Project? Modern sculpture? Health & Safety hazard? Entertaining subliminal marketing campaign?

[O KP]

My understanding is that it will sell some items from close nursery (resently taken over by the Duchy) as well as various duchy products e.g. biscuits. A development at the nursery is to follow in the future with a farm shop being placed thre as well as a visitors centre. Possible expansion into the nearby fields owned by the duchy. The farm shop at broadfield farm will then cease to exist.