Stamp of approval for Alan and Lisa

Alan and Lisa Bolshaw, owners of Sutton Post Office and General Stores were Highly Commended in the national Countryside Alliance Awards.

The store was nominated in the village shop/post office category, first topping the regional awards for the North West, before receiving this impressive recognition in the national finals.

The judging panel highlighted how the shop has truly become a cornerstone of the village, acting as a focal point for the community and helping to support the local economy. They also praised the store’s emphasis on aiming to source as much of its stock from the local area, where possible, with spirits supplied by the Forest Distillery in Macclesfield Forest, and craft beer from the Wincle Brewery. Fruit and vegetables are also locally-sources whenever possible, as Alan’s background is in greengrocery, and the shop now excels in this area.

At the awards ceremony, in Parliament’s House of Lords, Alan and Lisa met local MP, David Rutley, and told him of their future plans for the shop – including a refurbishment of the store’s interior, re-laying the carpark and hosing a farmers’ market.

This was the 14th Countryside Alliance Awards, known as the ‘Rural Oscars’. Over 17,000 entries for five categories were received from across the country, with the five finalists from each UK region making it to the finals.