Cromhall Shop and Post Office
How to Contact your Village Shop
Cromhall Community Shop
Townwell
Tel: 01454 299190
Patrick Martin was elected as Chairman of the Village Shop in October 2010. He can be contacted by email at:
The AGM, held in October, is open to all residents.
Latest News:
Update on the new Cromhall Shop and Post Office
Unfortunately, there has been a further delay over moving into our temporary accommodation because of certain legal matters that still need to be resolved. The Post Office also could not be moved during December because of the busy Christmas period.
The new provisional date for our move into temporary premises is now early February 2013 with an anticipated date of completion in late summer. Therefore the Post Office and Community Shop will remain in our present accommodation over Christmas and New Year.
So why not come and see what we have to offer the local community in Cromhall? We have an extensive range of fresh local produce and groceries. Regular weekly orders for bread, milk, cakes fruit and vegetables can be made, please ask for information.
The village shop will only remain open if the facility is used by the local residents.
Merlin video highlights the need for rural housing
To help raise awareness of the need for rural housing, Merlin Housing Society have produced a video about their forthcoming development in Cromhall - below is their press release.
"In the South West, the average rural home costs 13 times local income. Around 49% of the population lives in rural areas compared to 27% nationally, and 90,000 people are on the waiting list for this type of home.
The video recorded residents talking about life in their village. Click here to view the results.
“The sense of pride that people had in their community was amazing,” says Peter Crouch, Development Manager for Merlin.
“We’re really pleased that – with support and some funding from our South Gloucestershire Council – we can help that community stay strong.”
The Cromhall development will see the village’s award winning post office and community run shop, currently housed in a portacabin, get a new permanent home.
Merlin will also build two two-bedroomed affordable homes and a one bedroomed flat – vital in an area where the average home costs nearly ten times the average local income.
South Gloucestershire Council’s contribution to the scheme included the land as well as £100,000 of capital funding towards building costs for the new Post Office.
Chair of the council’s Adults & Housing Committee Matthew Riddle said: “The council is committed to supporting affordable housing as a way of helping to sustain rural communities in which our local residents might otherwise be priced out of the housing market.
“We were delighted to provide the land and capital funding for the Cromhall scheme, working in partnership with Merlin on a project that will bring a new permanent Post Office and shop to the village as well as much-needed affordable homes. I look forward to seeing work start on the site in the New Year.”
Added Peter: “The demand for affordable housing in South Gloucestershire is at an all-time high. Over the next five years we aim to build 300 homes to help ease this demand. We’re excited about the Cromhall development as they will be the first new rural homes that we have built.”"
A new Village Shop/Post Office
Here are the architect's drawings of Cromhall's new Shop, Post Office and associated housing:
Click here to see larger images
Would you like to live at the new Village Shop?
The new village shop/Post Office development in Cromhall will include a one-bedroom flat above the new Post Office plus two two-bedroom houses, available for social rent through Homechoice.
The homes will be built to a high quality, energy efficient design that will benefit tenants by providing lower running costs.
The scheme supports rural sustainability and rural regeneration, and will help meet demand for rural affordable houseing in Cromhall.
The affordable housing will be built and operated by Merlin, which is the largest affordable housing stock holder in South Gloucestershire.
If you would like to apply to live in one of the new homes please visit homechoice.southglos.gov.uk
If you have any queries in the meantime, please contact Enabling Projects Officer Tracey Price on 01454 868178 or .
Post Office Relocation
Due to the forthcoming redevelopment of Cromhall's shop and Post Office, the Post Office is planning to temporarily move to Cromhall Chapel, located 170 yards from the current service.
They expect the temporary move to take place in late September or early October 2012, exact date will be confirmed at a later date.
The redevelopment will include the building of a community shop and Post Office, which it is anticipated, will be ready in April 2013.
Post Office services will then return to its original location in the new premises.
The Post Office have produced a poster outlining details of the temporary new service, and who to contact should you have any concerns.
Click here to download the poster
Stock up at the Village Shop
Cromhall Community Shop offers fresh fruit and vegetables delivered every Thursday, and a large selection of local produce.
This includes ice cream, honey, cakes, preserves, chutneys, quiches, bread, cordials and of course, fruit and vegetables from local gardens when available.
If you want a ready meal, you can find a range of frozen foods, locally made ready meals and Pieminster pies.
You can order fresh bread from Hobbs House (order by Thursday for delivery on Saturday morning), pick up your local paper and stock up on household essentials.
Home made cakes are delivered to the shop every Wednesday and Friday.
We act as a drop-off point for prescriptions from the Wotton surgeries - save yourself a car journey.
We need more people in the village to use the shop to ensure we are able to keep this valuable village service running. By spending just £5 a week in the shop, you can make a difference.
Read the latest Community Shop newsletter
Click here to download the November 2011 newsletter
Become a member of the Community Shop
As a member of the shop Association, you are entitled to vote at the AGM and take advantage of the special offers and money-off vouchers that are periodically offered to members only. Currently we are offering vouchers to the value of £12 per annum.
If you would like to support the shop by joining the Association, please complete the details below and send this with your membership fee of £10 to the Chairman, c/o Cromhall Shop.
Click here to download a membership form
The village shop is over 14 years old: read about how it started, and about older shops that used to exist in Cromhall.
Click here to download a larger version of the poster above.
Voted Best Rural Post Office in the South West, 2003
Voted Central and West Regional "Heart of the Community" Post Office, 2009
Standard Village Shop Opening hours
| Morning | Afternoon | |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 8.30am-1pm | 2pm-5pm |
| Tuesday | 8.30am-1pm | 2pm-5pm |
| Wednesday | 8.30am-1pm | 2pm-5pm |
| Thursday | 8.30am-1pm | 2pm-5pm |
| Friday | 8.30am-1pm | 2pm-5pm |
| Saturday | 8.30-11.30am | Closed |
| Sunday | Closed | Closed |
Post Office Opening hours
| Morning | Afternoon | |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 8.30am-1pm | 2pm-5pm |
| Tuesday | 9am-12pm | Closed |
| Wednesday | Closed | Closed |
| Thursday | 9am-1pm | Closed |
| Friday | 8.30am-1pm | Closed |
| Saturday | Closed | Closed |
| Sunday | Closed | Closed |
Local products
It is our policy to support local companies whenever possible.
| Pieminister Pies. These are made in a bakery in Stokes Croft. Local flour is used, free range meat and there are no additives or preservatives. Perfect with mash and gravy - give yourself a night off cooking! |
| The Cook Family's Jams - made mainly from produce from their garden and allotments using old family recipes - includes delicious home made Seville Orange and Oxford marmalade. |
Vegetable and Fruit Boxes
Busy? Tired of carrying heavy bags? Get your recommended healthy five portions a day from your village shop.
Seasonal produce freshly delivered from a local supplier to your door each Thursday. Good value for money. Place your regular order in the shop now.
Last orders Wednesday before 1pm for delivery next day. Ring 299190 or call into the shop to complete an order form.
Services at the Post Office
Our Post Office offers PAYPAL, which caters for most electric key top-ups, all mobile E top-up vouchers and mobile phone cards. This service will eventually be extended to include more products.
You can buy One4all gift vouchers, which make ideal presents. The One4all vouchers can be spent in thousands of UK shops and services, with new locations added every day - pick up a leaflet at the Post Office.
The Government has also awarded a contract to the Post Office to run a card account for people to receive benefit, state pensions and tax credit payments.
Did you know you have a "hole in the wall" in the village? You can access cash at the post office if you have accounts at: RBS, Halifax, Lloyds, Barclays, Santander, Natt and Co-op.
If you are thinking of taking a holiday, the Post Office Holiday Insurance scheme gives excellent cover at competitive rates.
Remember you can pay your Council Tax through the Post Office.
Volunteers needed...
Could you do your bit to help keep the shop alive? Helpers and volunteers are always needed, and greatly appreciated.
Extra help is appreciated on a regular or occasional basis. Some volunteers just pop into the shop, look at the rota and see if they are able to fill any empty space during the week.
If you are willing to fill a regular slot and are not available some weeks, cover can be arranged. New helpers are given training and always work with an experienced person.
It is a great way to get to know people and what is going on in the village. If you would like to help, call in the shop and speak to a supervisor.
Buy a Cromhall bag
Show your support for the village and help save the environment by buying a re-usable Cromhall shopping bag.
The bags are made of cotton, and are available to buy at £2.00 from Cromhall Post Office.
Cromhall notelets are now also only £2 a pack.
All proceeds go to ClinC
Cromhall 100 Club
St Andrew’s Church is a valuable historic building and has been a place of worship in Cromhall since at least the 13th century.
Even if you do not worship there regularly, the church is there for you for special services, Baptisms, Marriages and Funerals.
The yearly care and maintenance of St Andrew’s Church and churchyard is very costly and so the 100 club was set up to raise funds to help with this.
Entry costs £10 per number for a year.
Quarterly draws take place in Cromhall Shop at 11am on the last working day of November, February, May and August.
Prizes are: 1st - £30, 2nd - £20, 3rd - £10, plus £50 draws at Christmas and Easter.
If numbers requested exceed 100, the value of the draws will be increased.
Click here to download an application form
Standing order mandate forms are available from Cromhall Shop or Ann Greenhalgh for those who wish.
You can contact Ann Greenhalgh by email: or on 01454 294200.
Tytherington Outreach Post Office
Based in Tytherington Village Shop, the Post Office is open for business as follows:
MONDAY 9.00am to 1.00pm
WEDNESDAY 2.30pm to 4.30pm
THURSDAY 9.00am to 1.00pm
There is ample car parking outside.
