We were thrilled to be awarded a full LEADER grant for £49,295 at the end of last week which rounded off weeks of work on the application. Luckily we were a good fit with LEADER’s priorities of the support and growth of Rural businesses Including;
- small business growth and farm diversification
- rural tourism
- rural services
- cultural and heritage activity (Sam is both highly cultured and very old, so it’s a perfect fit!)
The LEADER grant is match funded, with Sam and I having to raise the other 60% (and some more!) with the funds spent on butchery and restaurant equipment. But thanks to the crowdfunding campaign and that rummage down the back of the sofa, Sam and I are now confident that we can open the new shop fully equipped, stocked and ready for take off. We are expecting to open in mid-August, and the building is looking fantastic.
Gavin is working on the new menus, we have a new butcher in place, and we are working on getting the new systems ready for opening. We have finalised all our equipment, flooring, lighting and are now working on stock, branding and layout, while at the same time keeping our existing farm shop ticking over with events and our day to day summer business.
Being awarded the grant was a huge relief and enables us to do everything that we want to do from the off. Even the opening of the cookery school will be brought forward so that we should be running courses this Autumn.
Please keep up the great support and bear with Sam and I as we make this transition. Ruth is on hand for all shop enquiries, Gavin is now kitchen based, with the pizza oven blazing away on Friday, Saturday and Sunday lunchtimes, (helped by Jamie and Tom) and Ray is making sausages and prepping on Thursday for the butchery counter on Friday and Saturday mornings.
If there is anything we can help with, please do get in touch. You can pre-order meat, fish and veg, book parties or join us for lunch.
Well done Fred and Sam.
Are you still considering a prepaid account card to purchase goods?