Blackawton Community Shop

The Blackawton Community Shop and Post Office is located on the village’s main street, opposite the church and just next to the George Inn.

The shop stocks fairtrade, organic and homemade produce, fresh fruit and veg and a range of drinks and snacks, as well as grocery and household essentials, newspapers and more. Call in and see what we have to offer!

Blackawton Community Shop
Oakleigh Cottage
Main Street
Blackawton
Totnes
Devon TQ9 7BG

Telephone: 01803 712157
blackawtonshop@gmail.com

Shop Hours (Correct at Oct 2020)
Mon-Fri: 8:30am – 4:30pm
Saturday: 9:00am – 1:00pm
Sunday: 10:00am – 12noon

Post Office Opening Times:
Mon-Sat: 9am - 1pm

 

The shop is staffed largely by volunteers, and we’re always pleased to hear from anyone willing to help, either on the shop or Post Office side; so please do get in touch if you’re interested in joining us.

News & Updates

Facebook Posts

Get in touch

To speak to the volunteer staff or to leave a message for the shop manager, call us during shop opening hours on 01803 712157. Or email the management committee on blackawtonshop@gmail.com.

What we offer

  • Fresh, store-cupboard and frozen foods; baking goods, herbs and spices
  • Bathroom essentials and household goods
  • Fair-trade, organic and home-made produce
  • Cleaning products and refills from Ecover
  • Gluten-free products including home-made cakes
  • Cold drinks and snacks
  • Local, good-value eggs from Rich Chicks
  • locally-made sourdough and other speciality breads
  • Wines from Michael Sutton’s Cellars
  • Devon brewed ales and ciders
  • Aune Valley meats – in stock and to order
  • Frozen fish from Britannia Shellfish
  • Hot drinks – make yourself a coffee, tea or hot chocolate
  • Book swap – pick up a good read from our shelf
  • Newspapers, a wide range of greetings cards
  • Indoor and outdoor seating

Phone to pre-order fresh bread, meat or other items

Sustainability

We try to adopt a sustainable approach. We stock organic, “eco” and local products where we can, and rely on a number of local producers. We’re always keen to hear of new initiatives which could help us to reduce packaging, increase recycling or similar.

Ecover cleaning product refills: refill any size bottle (washing-up liquid, laundry liquid or all-purpose cleaner).

Promotions

We run some great special offers from time to time for customers - including a monthly value wine offer.

We also run promotions or raffles periodically to raise funds, either for the community shop itself or for other local organisations or charities.

Our story

Our shop and post office is run by the community, for the community. We aim to provide an efficient and friendly local shop, and fair prices, in order to meet the needs of the village community in all its diversity. A part of village life, the shop also functions as a meeting place and support network for local people. And we hope visitors find it useful and welcoming too!

A community benefit society, Blackawton Community Shop Association is run by a management committee, with a part-time professional manager and staffed largely by volunteers. Any profit is reinvested in the shop or put into reserves against future expenses.

Our story starts in 2012 when the previous village shop, in Vicarage Road, was sadly obliged to close – a victim of the difficulty of running a commercially viable store in a small rural village. Faced with the prospect of having no shop or post office, in a village with no public transport links and several miles from the nearest town, a group of energetic and determined residents got together, canvassed opinion and gathered support and funding – and Blackawton Community Shop was born.

After several years occupying a portacabin adjacent to the Village Hall, the shop moved to its current premises in Oakleigh Cottage, Main Street in 2018 – a move made possible by a Lottery grant and the generosity of the premises owner. A building which housed a shop many decades ago … so the community shop is back in what feels like its rightful place! - at the centre of the village.

And while 2020 was a difficult year for us all, the shop proved its worth during some of the most difficult times. Remaining open when many shops were closed due to the pandemic, it came to the fore as a community hub and resource - providing a continuous source of supplies, delivering to vulnerable local residents, and becoming a valued lifeline for some.

So we believe our village needs the shop. But the shop needs the village too, if it is to survive. So please come in and see what it has to offer.

How you can help

The most important way you can help our shop survive and thrive, and to continue to provide its vital service to the village, is to use it ! Please do make use of it when you can. You might even find a change in shopping habits may be to your advantage!...

And we’d love to hear from you if you’d like to join our team of friendly volunteers and offer a bit of your time helping out. Just a couple of hours each week behind the counter can be a big help; no experience necessary and training will be given – it’s very easy!

Come into the shop and have a chat, or give us a call. Thank you!