Shops

Food Shops

The biggest regret expressed by our first-time guests is that they brought too much food from home – they wished that they could have used the shops locally in and around Ellesmere.

Whilst Ellesmere does have a medium-sized Tesco and a small Co-Op, one of the pleasures here is the relaxed pace of life and opportunity to experience our local shops – in the nicest-possible way, this is rather like stepping back into the 1950s, when people have time to stop and talk whilst shopping.  In particular, visit Vermuelen’s bakery & delicatessen – we recommend the Bread & Butter Pudding.

There is an indoor market on Tuesday mornings, with fresh fruit and vegetables plus Rodney Stokes’ pork pies & sausages.

Although Ellesmere has its own supermarkets, we recommend a trip to Stan’s Superstore – an amazing independent supermarket stocking anything from washing machines to venison sausages.  It includes a florist, pharmacy, coffee shop, Post Office and petrol station.  Stan’s is 6 miles away in St Martins.

Fuel

Mere Motors in Ellesmere or Stan’s Superstore in St Martins.

Caravan Spares

Clwyd Caravans – about 8 miles away.

Miscellaneous

JC Dyke DIY – an old-fashioned ‘mooch-around’ country hardware shop to explore in Ellesmere.

Dapol – model railways.

Black Country Metalworks – homes and interiors.

Courtyard Interiors, Ellesmere.

J A Milton Upholstery Supplies and training courses, Ellesmere.

For antique collectors, there are three antique shops in Ellesmere plus a Sunday antiques fair in the new Town Hall each month.  You may also find a bargain at the massive Chirk Airfield car boot sale open every Sunday morning and on Bank Holiday Mondays.  Nearby Chester and Shrewsbury also have lots of antique shops.

Shrewsbury, Chester & Cheshire Oaks

Shrewsbury is 15 miles South of Birch Hill and claims to have the largest number of independent retailers in the UK.  Chester is about 25 miles North – both are pleasant places for a day out.  Cheshire Oaks is a large ‘designer outlet village’ near Chester.