Community Shop, Coffee Shop & Post Office

Dalwood Community Shop Association and Post Office

The Knapp, Dalwood

Axminster, Devon EX13 7EJ

Location

The Shop is situated in the picturesque village of Dalwood, a short walk from the Tuckers Arms and St Peter’s Parish Church and is a short drive from Burrow Farm Gardens and Loughwood Meeting House.

Facilities

There is an accessible toilet on site.

There is a gallery space available in The Coffee Shop showcasing local artists. Further information on buying the artwork or showcasing your work please contact the shop via email: dalwoodcommunityshop@outlook.com

What’s available

We are fortunate to have purchasing arrangements with Sainsbury’s, The Co-op and cash and carry stores which allows us to sell a variety of familiar items for everyday use from Apple Juice to Zero % alcohol products! Everything you would expect from a convenience store and more . . . All at comparable supermarket prices and sometimes less!

Standard items include: Free range eggs, cereal, bread, canned soup, a selection of teas, coffees, confectionary a good assortment of biscuits, preserves and honey, sauces, condiments, rice, pasta, soft drinks, household products, toiletries, stationery, greetings cards and much, much more . . .

We stock a small range of ‘Free From’ and vegan items.

In the chiller cabinet we have milk regularly delivered and other dairy products, local bacon, sausages, sausage rolls and cold drinks.

Our freezers contain meat (packed and frozen for us by a local prize-winning butcher), ready meals – including Indian curries and quiches, vegetables and desserts and ice creams.

Our off-licence is very popular, with well-priced wines, spirits, beers and ciders along with our very own prize-winning Dalwood wine and Dalwood English Sparkling both in white and rosé.

Souvenirs of Dalwood: tea towel, tote bag, mug, all depicting illustrated scenes of the village, postcards and clotted cream fudge and Cornish clotted cream biscuits with photos of the village on the packaging.

There is a wide selection of tourist information, including a free publication with walks around Dalwood.

The shop also sells a book written by local resident Alison Morgan – ‘Dalwood Great War Memorial 1914 – 1919’.

If there is anything you would like us to stock on a regular basis please email the shop: dalwoodcommunityshop@outlook.com, and we will see if we can accommodate your request.

You can also order a daily newspaper for collection.

General information

All staff are volunteers except the Post Master who is paid by the Post Office. A Management Committee makes operational decisions.

The shop is, and has been, a hub for various community projects including: Village Green Status, the Neighbourhood Plan and the Affordable Housing Development.

Dalwood has a very strong Community spirit with many social and fundraising events in which the Shop participates.

There is a weekly lottery game available in the shop, which is based on the National Lottery, in aid of local community organisations.

As an Association, lifetime Membership shares are available for £2.00 which allow members to vote at the AGM. Anyone wishing to purchase shares or for further information please contact: dalwoodcommunityshop@outlook.com

Although smaller than many Community Shops, our shop has been used as an example of how businesses like ours can flourish with strong support from the community by the organisation now called The Plunkett Foundation.

Our Story So Far (from 1999 to date) . . .

August 1999 – the sub post office closed and the idea of creating a Community Shop and Post Office was hatched.

August 1999 – December 2001 – the community secured the lease of the building from EDDC. The Plunket Foundation provided advice on legal matters and constitution, and the project was funded by grants and bonds were sold to residents. A project manager was appointed and plans were submitted to EDDC. Once approved several local builders volunteered to complete the work.

December 2001 – The shop opened – only the second Community Shop in Devon after Talaton.

January 2002 – The Post Office opened.

2003 – the shop was extended into the adjacent garage to provide extra sales and stock space. A digital touch screen till was installed.

2012 – Shop refit and Chip & Pin introduced.

2012 & 2013 We have twice entered the Countryside Alliance competition for village shops becoming regional finalists.

2010 As part of our green policy the shop became plastic bag free, solar panels were installed, we appointed a green energy supplier and are a Water Refill Station.

March 2018 an EGM and subsequent AGM endorsed an extension to the shop for a coffee/meeting area. Grants were secured from the following organisations: Local Council grants 35%, Local Organisations 20%, Donations and Fund Raisers 25% and Shop Funds 20%.

2020 – During Covid 19 The shop and the Post Office stayed open thanks to an army of fantastic volunteers and the support from The Tuckers Arms. The shop also made deliveries to those self-isolating.

Spring 2021 – The lease was signed for the new extension.

Autumn 2023 – work started on the Extension after many delays obtaining builders and materials in the aftermath of Covid.

30th May 2024 – The new Coffee Shop opened. It provides a great asset for the community and visitors to sit and enjoy a selection of quality bean-to-cup coffee from the Coffee Machine or choose from a selection of teas.