We are aiming high this year and entering the All-Party Parliamentary Small Shops Group Competition to find the best small shop in the UK. It is designed to bring small retailers to the attention of parliamentarians and the local community. MPs are asked to promote retailers from their constituencies and Mel Stride has stepped forward to promote us. Here is his testimony:

The bright and welcoming Ilsington Village Shop is tucked on the edge of Dartmoor National Park in a small isolated community which lost its privately owned shop in 2008.  After four years of work and fundraising the new community-owned shop opened in 2012 with a fantastic newly-built store staffed by a manager and over fifty dedicated volunteers.

It is a real testament to the volunteers that the shop is a great success on a business level, with attractive layouts, great products, many local suppliers and a healthy profit to boot.

 In addition the shop has made a huge difference to the local community, both as a focal point for the village and also through its donations to other good causes in the area. I strongly recommend Ilsington Village Shop as one of the best small shops in the country.

We will find out if we have made it to the short list on 16th Feb 2015. Fingers crossed!

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