Kentish Express Ashford & District
Couple put village’s only store on the market
The owners of the last surviving shop in Egerton have put the store on the market for £500,000.
Bosses at chartered surveyors Stafford Perkins are advertising Egerton Village Stores, which is run by husband-and-wife team Fiona and Colin Fraser-Pritchard.
The property, which is in The Street close to the junction with Glebeland, is Grade II listed and comes with six bedrooms above the shop.
Mrs Fraser-Pritchard said: “We are moving on from the shop but not from the village, and we need to move on for family reasons.
“As far as I know, it has been a shop for the last 100 years and we are trying to get someone else to take it on as a community hub.
“The post office has to stay open, it is such an integral part of the village.”
Mrs Fraser-Pritchard, who has lived in Egerton since 2000 and is a former planner at Maidstone Borough Council, has run the shop for almost five years.
It is being marketed at £550,000.
Mrs Fraser-Pritchard added: “There is nothing easy about running a village shop and a post office, it is hard work and long hours.
“There are days where you want to hit your head against a brick wall, but every day we will have a great laugh with someone who comes in.
“I think the old style village shop is dying as that generation dies sadly, and whoever takes it on will have the challenge of moving it into the 21st century.
“There are no plans to shut it – we are desperately trying to keep it going without having to close it and would like to hand it over to the new buyer.”
Stafford Perkins director Richard Stafford says the building is suitable for a variety of uses.
He said: “I hope someone takes it on and keeps the post office business going.
“It needs to be something that the village needs, but can also sustain a family and pay the bills. “It is a cracking little business.” What do you think? Write to Kentish Express, Unit 4, Park Mall shopping centre, Ashford, TN24 8RY or email kentishexpress@thekmgroup. co.uk