Much-loved holiday shop, cottages and café for sale
ONE of Gower’s most famous businesses and a landmark stopping-off point for hundreds of thousands of day-trippers and visitors over many decades is up for sale .
Shepherds, in Parkmill, which was founded in 1896 and which used to be run by Glamorgan’s legendary bowler Don Shepherd and his family, is on the market for £1.2 million.
The landmark village shop also comes with five holiday cottages, a coffee shop and car park to the front.
The village shop began more than 120 years ago as an outpost frequented by locals and travellers. As day-tripping became more popular on Gower, Shepherds became well known as a stoppingoff point for families with cars and Sunday school groups.
The existing shop operates on the site of the original premises. The original building was demolished in the early 1930s and the current one constructed in eight weeks at a cost of £600.
The shop was later run by Don Shepherd.
In 1996, when Shepherds was 99 years old, the family retired, and the business was sold to Nick and Emma Hopkins, who, 23 years on, are also now planning their retirement.
“We too were taken to Shepherds as a treat by our own parents as children and had a great deal of love and respect for the place,” said the couple.
“We have tried to retain as much community spirit within the shop while making gradual improvements. We renovated the shop in 1997, extended the range of ice-cream, built the new café extension in 1998, and added the cottage accommodation in 2007.
“We’ve been flat out ever since. It’s been 10 years now and we’re welcoming new guests and seeing familiar faces return year after year.
“The cottages and apartment are constantly being upgraded.
“It’s now time to pass the baton on to someone else who will love it as we have.”
Agents Dawsons say for an investor, the business would produce a gross accommodation income of around £70,000 a year along with the famous Shepherd’s store, coffee shop and car park to its front.