Cafe custom up for frosty communities
10:26am Friday 25th January 2013 in Latest News
Freshford’s Galleries manager Christine McKenzie, front, with volunteers Hugh Delap, left, and Jan Pitt and shop committee chairman Peter King
Communities across west Wiltshire came into their own at the weekend, serving residents who were stranded by snow.
The Galleries Shop and Cafe in Freshford saw an increase in trade, as children tobogganed in the field next door and snowed-in residents came to stock up on supplies.
Duty manager Charles Malir said: “It has been three times busier, because everyone is off school. The children were coming in and out and we were serving lots of hot chocolate and croissants.
Manager Christine McKenzie lives in Holt and had to leave her car in Winsley, because of the Winsley Hill closure.
She said: “I walked to the shop and my daughter had to walk to Ralph Allen School in Bath to take her history GCSE.
“There was a real community feel. Older residents were able to pop into the shop because people had cleared their driveways, and people went out in four-by-fours to get our produce, including milk and bread.”
A delivery of bacon and cheese was unable to reach the shop, so the butcher, Jon Thorner, came in his four by four.
He said: “It has been like this before when it snowed. People love the shop and it has put the heart back into the village.”
Colerne Cafe remained open on Friday, serving hot food and warm drinks to stranded people.
Natalie Pike, one of its owners, said: “It was absolutely manic, one of our busiest days ever.
“Everyone who had been sledging on the hill was coming in to make use of the radiators.
“As there is no passing trade, we are just here for the villagers two days a week and we have already run out of sausages, bacon and eggs. It was lovely; really busy.”
