Much-loved corner shop has reopened

THE much-loved corner shop in Bath Road is open and trading again.

After long-term owner Bob Webley’s death in September, the charming old fashioned business closed its doors.

But now members of Mr Webley’s family have opened it again, hoping to clear stock that had remained in it. It remains to be seen, though, whether it will continue to trade for long.

Simon Webley, Mr Webley’s son, said people had been glad to see it open even if its long-term future was not yet clear. He said: “Everyone has been really kind, and it’s been lovely working there at weekends around my other work. I suspect the shop will stay open until Christmas and then we will likely have some kind of closing down sale.

“I suppose the shop will either be rented out or sold but no decisions have been made at all yet. I’m sure you can appreciate that in its current form it’s not exactly commercially viable my dad was just working to pay business rates for the last few years in the shop.”

Some people felt it was almost as if it had been in a time warp because it had changed so little over the years. Mr Webley had it rammed full of all kinds of things such as newspapers, cigarettes, toys, public notices and greetings cards.