A warm welcome to
Ilmington Community Shop & Cafe
The cooperative at the heart of our community in one of the loveliest villages in the Cotswolds.
At the Heart of the Village
Ilmington is one of the prettiest of Cotswold villages, and our community shop is at the heart of village life. You’ll find us in the old Catholic Church building on Upper Green, with views towards rooftops and Cotswold hills. Manager Michele Hall leads the team of local volunteers, all ready to greet you with a smile.
The first thing you should notice inside the shop is the personal welcome. It’s the volunteers who bake croissants at the break of day, sort out the daily newspapers and stack the shelves. It will usually be a volunteer who serves you at the till. All our staff are happy to chat and help you find what you’re looking for: we are genuinely proud of our shop, and our village too.
In fact, Ilmington Community Shop is owned by the community it serves and run as a cooperative for the benefit of the community. During the recent pandemic, it has been a lifeline for those residents who are vulnerable or shielding. In normal times, our shop and café are a favourite destination for visitors, cyclists and walkers: after all, we have a dozen stunning walks from our doorstep.
We try to use local suppliers wherever possible, whether for fresh vegetables, bread and eggs, or handcrafted gifts and locally-brewed spirits. We also sell essential grocery items at reasonable prices, so you can shop locally without the hassle of a busy supermarket.
Almost every Monday morning, you’ll find Chris Davies, the fish man, parked in front of the shop from 11.30am to 12.30pm. We are Chris’s first port of call from Grimsby, so why not buy your fresh fish and locally-grown vegetables from us at the same time? It’s a very Ilmington way to start the week…
Coronavirus & the shop and café
CAFE REOPENED
The café is now open for outside service only.
The opening hours are:
Closed Sunday & Monday
9.30 – 4.30 Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
12.00 – 4.30 Friday (closed in the morning for orders and home deliveries)
9.30 – 4.00 Saturday
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HOME DELIVERY SERVICE
If you live locally and are self-isolating, or are otherwise impacted by the current pandemic, please let Ilmington Community Shop be your lifeline. We have a team of volunteers who can pick and deliver your shopping to your door.
We deliver twice a week, on a Tuesday and a Friday, to homes in Ilmington, Darlingscott and Blackwell. Please place your order by Monday shop closing (5pm) for next day delivery, or Thursday evening latest for Friday delivery.
If you would like to place an order, simply download an order form here, fill it in and email it to orders@ilmingtonshop.co.uk. Or you can phone us on 01608 682838. You may pay by card when you order and our friendly delivery team are trained to avoid direct contact, to keep you safe.
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VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
A big thank you to all our wonderful volunteers, whether you work behind the till on a regular shift, help with deliveries, or belong to our out-of-hours cleaning team.
In the current pandemic, we need a wider pool of volunteers. Some of our regulars are shielding, so we particularly call on younger members of the community who may be working from home, or on furlough, or perhaps waiting to return to university! If you have a few hours to spare each week, please come and see us or call Michele Hall on 01608 682838.
When you shop with us, we can improve our stock
During the pandemic, we have been able to stock a broad range of products and have managed the sale of staple items creatively – for instance selling pasta by weight in the first lockdown - so that we do not run out. We aim to provide a full range of quality and essential items so that our customers can shop safely and comprehensively with us.
Our range is improving all the time, so do come and see how good our fresh bread and vegetables can be! If there’s anything you don’t see, please ask. You can also place special orders with us for organic foods, vegan options, Free-From ranges and so on. We want to create a brilliant and welcoming shopping experience in a safe, local environment. We can only do this if you support us and let us know what you need.
OPENING HOURS OF THE SHOP
Weekdays 7.30am - 5.30pm
Saturday 8.00am - 5.00pm
Sunday/Bank Holidays 8.30am - 1.00pm
OPENING HOURS OF THE CAFE
Reopening week commencing 26th April for outside service only. Hours to be confirmed
POST OFFICE
Tuesdays & Thursdays 2.00pm - 4.45pm
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The Shop
The Cafe
The Cooperative
We stock
Local Fruit, Vegetables, Bread and Cakes delivered daily | Local quality Meats & Pies | General Groceries | Household Products | Wines and Spirits | Local Beers & Ciders | Deli Delights | Sweets and Confectionery | Ice Cream Counter | Newspapers & Magazines | Stationery | Cards & Gift Wrap | Dry Cleaning Service | Shoe Repairs | DVD & Book Swap
Cyclists Welcome
Walkers Welcome
Wheelchair
Access
Dog
Station
Free
WI-FI
Need a lift?
Most days between 10am and 1pm there will be a volunteer available to give you a lift to the shop.
Telephone 682838 to find out more.
